The first twelve years after the Civil War, known as The Reconstruction Era, is an often overlooked period in the history of American race relations. This is unfortunate, because Reconstruction was a time of incredible change, hope, and possibility.

The backlash, however, was coming.

In studying Reconstruction, students will learn that America’s racial history has not been a straight line from oppression to progress, but rather a twisting path that has included many hard-fought gains snatched away.

The main reading in this six-week class will be Black Was the Ink by Michelle Coles, a novel about a 21st-century teenager who time travels back to Washington, D.C. in the aftermath of slavery and finds himself working as an assistant to Hiram Revels, the first Black American to serve in the U.S. Senate.

Prerequisite: The Transatlantic Slave Trade, or by permission

Instructor: Laura Fokkena

DETAILS:

Suggested age range: High school.

Outside work: We will read Black Was the Ink with additional materials from Facing History and Ourselves’ Reconstruction unit.

When & where: Fridays on Zoom from 11:00 - 12:00 Eastern Time, Jan. 9 - Feb. 13, 2026.

Fee: $150 ungraded/$200 graded; this includes a non-refundable registration fee of $10. Students must also purchase or borrow their own copy of Black Was the Ink. We offer discounts for groups, siblings, and students who enroll in multiple classes. (Discount information.) Payment plans available. Fees waived for families with financial need. (Waivers and payment plan information.) Questions about how classes work? Read our course FAQ.

Photo credit: Laura Fokkena