Preserving Chicago Southland's
History Through Research & Education
Late 1900s and early 2000s Lessons
This lesson situates a local environmental justice issue—University Park’s lead contamination crisis—within national patterns of infrastructural neglect, racial inequality, and civic disempowerment. It connects to themes in U.S. history such as environmental racism, privatization of public services, federalism, and social movements. Paired with the Flint water crisis, this lesson illuminates how systemic inequalities in infrastructure and governance shape community health outcomes. The comparison underscores historical continuities and local specificities in how Black communities have organized to demand accountability and resources.
This project-based framework by Tim Herbert guides students through the process of conducting and analyzing oral history interviews focused on the Southland region. Through personal storytelling and community research, students build historical thinking skills while preserving local memory and diverse perspectives.
Uses local union photos, campaign materials, and presidential speeches to examine how Reagan-era economic policies impacted Illinois workers. Students analyze primary sources, explore the decline of industrial labor in communities like Chicago’s South Side, and debate whether 1980s policies supported or undermined working-class interests. This lesson fosters civic dialogue and connects local labor history to national politics.