Marian Wright Edelman

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March 12, 2001
Web posted at: 2:20 PM EST (1920 GMT)

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1. Who is Marian Wright Edelman? Where did she grow up? What circumstances shaped her childhood? What "external messages" did she have to confront? Who were her mentors?

2. What did Marian Wright Edelman use to rise above the circumstances of poverty? How did she distinguish herself as a student?

3. As a young civil rights lawyer, in what program did Ms. Edelman become involved? What are the objectives of Head Start? Why did Ms. Edelman testify before a Senate committee in 1967? Which senator went to the Mississippi Delta with her to see the poverty of which she spoke? After seeing this poverty, what did Senator Robert Kennedy urge Marian Wright Edelman to do?

4. What organization does Ms. Edelman head today? What are some of the accomplishments of the Children's Defense Fund?

5. Write this quote from Marian Wright Edelman on the board:

"If you don't like the way the world is, you change it. You have an obligation to change it. You just do it one step at a time."

Discuss with students what aspects of the world Marian Wright Edelman saw and changed, and how she met those challenges. Then challenge students to consider the world in which they live, and the things they don't like about it. Have each student write an essay in which he/she describes what he/she can do to change those aspects of life, "one step at a time." Also have them consider their "obligations" to support positive changes in the world.

6. If you use CNN NEWSROOM video in your classroom, refer to the broadcast from March 8, 2001, in which Marian Wright Edelman was the subject of the News Chronicle section. Before having students read the CNNfyi.com article, "'Never for a moment lacked a purpose'", ask them what they can recall about Ms. Edelman from the program last week. Then give them the article to read and ask them to compare and contrast their ability to learn and retain information using methods of sight and sound versus by reading. As students have different learning strengths, there are likely to be a variety of answers. Reinforce for students that there is no "right" way to learn, but that it is important for students to use several methods and to come to recognize their learning style strengths.

7. If you taped the CNN NEWSROOM broadcast from March 8, 2001, play the section on Marian Wright Edelman again after having students read and answer the above questions. Have them compare and contrast their reactions to the video versus the written news article. Did one strike them as more "accurate" than the other? Which did they prefer, and why? Do they find themselves reacting more emotionally to visual aspects of the video version? Have them discuss their reactions. Then have them list benefits of broadcast news, written news and receiving news from more than one medium.

The Children's Defense Fund
Africana.com: Articles: Edelman, Marian Wright
The Women of The Hall - Marian Wright Edelman
Marion Wright Edelman Quotations

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