This free, 3-week summer course explores the deeper meaning behind American holidays like Memorial Day, Juneteenth, and the Fourth of July. Designed by Àbulẹ, a multicultural online co-op and virtual school, the course reclaims historical memory and honors the contributions of marginalized communities to the American story.
Using multimedia, storytelling, and historical inquiry, students will challenge dominant narratives and engage in discussions about identity, justice, and national values. This course is not about memorizing facts—it’s about connecting history to life, asking critical questions, and recognizing the voices often left out.
This is a multilevel course designed for both middle and high school students to enjoy and learn from. Families are welcome to learn alongside their students.
You must create a free Summer Student account to be enrolled into this course. Click here to sign up now.
✅ No credit card or payment required — just sign up and start learning!
Student accounts and access to this course will expire on July 10th. At that time, accounts will be deleted. Please complete your work before this date.
This course is not for credit but is designed to build historical thinking and cultural awareness in an engaging and accessible way.
📚 How the Course Works
This Summer course is delivered through an interactive LMS with self-paced lessons and live class discussions held on Sundays. There are no quizzes—only projects and writing assignments that allow students to reflect and respond to the material creatively and critically.
- 🎥 Multimedia Lessons: Readings, videos, music, and visuals bring history to life and help students explore themes of remembrance, resistance, and celebration.
- 📝 Projects & Assignments: Students respond to readings and activities through writing, art, and research-based responses.
- 💬 Discussions: Optional prompts in each lesson allow students to share ideas using our built-in discussion panel. Students can also join live Sunday sessions to engage in deeper conversation.
We’ll be meeting for live class discussions on Sunday, June 22, Sunday, June 29, and Sunday, July 6 at 2:00pm Eastern Time.
Here’s what that means across U.S. time zones:
• 11:00am Pacific / 12:00pm Mountain / 1:00pm Central / 2:00pm Eastern
This course fits any summer schedule. Students can engage at their own pace, with all materials available 24/7.
This course is completely free to ensure educational access for all. If you’re able, please consider donating to help us keep programs like this available to families everywhere.
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👋🏽 Welcome to Freedom & Memory: Reclaiming American U.S. Holidays -
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The Role of Holidays in Nation-Building
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Indigenous, Black, and Immigrant Erasure in U.S. Holidays
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Project: Voices from the Margins
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Black Freedpeople and the First Memorial Day (Charleston, 1865)
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Assignment: Compare the Narratives
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Class Discussion
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