What does life in the American South and Puerto Rico look like for people of color? From the COVID-19 pandemic to racial reckonings, experience life through the lens of filmmakers from communities of color in #HINDSIGHT, an initiative created by Firelight Media, Reel South, and the Center for Asian American Media (CAAM).

How the Monuments Came Down explores the complex history of Richmond, Virginia through the lens of Confederate monuments, supported by an extensive visual record never before presented in a single work.

Through personal stories from descendants and history-makers, the film uncovers how Confederate monuments came to shape Richmond’s landscape and why protestors demanded they come down.

In this collection, you will find film clips and learning resources designed to engage students with primary sources found in the film. These curriculum resources were written by Rodney Robinson, the 2019 National Teacher of the Year and a 20-year veteran of Richmond Public Schools.

How the Monuments Came Down is a production of Field Studio, in association with VPM.

Note to Teachers

The video clips, Caricatures of African Americans and Monument Avenue Commission, include depictions of blackface; in an effort to provide authentic and transparent resources about the historical experiences of Black Americans, these moments were not censored. Some abusive language appears in one primary resource in The Right to Vote.

Sensitive: This resource contains material that may be sensitive for some students. Teachers should exercise discretion in evaluating whether this resource is suitable for their class.

Discover the immersive, perplexing, and hands-on side of physical science with Dianna Cowern, host of Physics Girl. In this series from PBS Digital Studios, Dianna shows us how the physical world works by using everyday experiments and questions to demonstrate basic (and sometimes, dangerously complex) scientific ideas.