The heart of San Francisco has been a significant location for historical stories
and milestones for the AAPI Community. The AAPI movement aims to celebrate and uplift
the diverse cultures of Asian Americans, with a special focus on Chinese/Cantonese,
Japanese, and Korean communities. We will begin our excursion by exploring Chinatown,
one of the US's oldest and most vibrant Chinese neighborhoods. We will then head to
the Japanese town and learn about the struggles and triumphs of Japanese Americans,
including their experiences during World War II. Finally, we will end our trip with
the exploration of the deep-rooted cultural connections and growing influence of the
Korean community in the Bay Area and enjoy a Korean meal together for lunch. The AAPI
movement excursion will provide you with an opportunity to engage in meaningful conversations
about the complexities of Asian American identities and the importance of representation.
By including multiple cultures in our discussions, we hope to highlight the richness
and diversity of the AAPI experience.
Many misconceptions surround the Black Panther Party and their historical call for
collective action and justice. We will travel to Oakland to expand our awareness of
the Black Panther Party during the 1960s. During a tour led by a Black Panther Party
archivist and historian, we will visit landmarks central to their legacy, such as
It’s All Good bakery, the Alameda County courthouse, and a bust of Black Panther Party
founder Huey P. Newton while engaging in meaningful dialogue. We will unpack and explore
this rich part of American history that originated in Oakland and subsequent worldwide
expansion while also analyzing the relevance and connections to present life in the
U.S. and beyond.
The Castro District has been a hub of community and activism for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual,
Transgender, and Queer (LGBTQ+) people for more than 50 years. We’ll explore this
neighborhood’s role in addressing social issues from the 1960s to the present day.
After visiting the site of the Compton Cafe Uprising (which happened two years before
the Stonewall Uprising), we'll see Pink Triangle Park (which memorializes the LGBTQ+
victims of the Nazi Holocaust). After that, a tour of the Pride Walk will highlight
the racial, ethnic, and gender diversity of the LGBTQ+ communities. The tour will
conclude with a visit to the GLBT Historical Society museum, which has the original
rainbow flag created by Gilbert Baker in 1978.
In November of 1969, under the cover of darkness, a group called "Indians of All Tribes"
occupied Alcatraz Island, the site of a decommissioned federal prison. A group of
89 men, women, and children claimed the island on behalf of North American tribes,
holding the land for almost two years. James Fortier's documentary, Alcatraz is Not
an Island, observes that the "takeover of Alcatraz was one of the most successful
Indian protest actions of the twentieth century, fueling the rise of modern Native
American activism." We will visit the island by boat, take a tour led by an individual
part of the occupation, and discuss activism by Indigenous people and their civil
rights gains.
In San Francisco, we will explore critical moments in the lives of Chicanos and PanLatinx
identities. Join us as we uncover and dialogue about the contributions of Latinx people
to the history of San Francisco by learning about the Mission District’s Mexican American,
Chicano, and PanLatinx people through vibrant murals and public art. Through a discussion
of the social, economic, and political issues that converge in this space, students
will explore how this group, although diverse, cultivates a sense of Latinidad or
cultural interconnectedness.
