Le'Passion Darby
Learning Designer
Center for Digital Agriculture
EdTech Professional
Career and Tech Ed
I am a Learning Designer at the Center for Digital Agriculture at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. I have worked progressively in learning and instructional design since my 2017 volunteer-ship with the Smithsonian Learning Lab and my consecutive 2018 internship with the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture. I hold a bachelor's degree in Mass Media Arts from Clark Atlanta University, and most recently, a master's in Learning Design and Leadership with graduate minors in Art History, Heritage Studies, and Global Studies, respectively, from University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. I enjoy researching and writing about campus artifacts and heritage at colleges and universities around the world. Collectively, I have toured more than 90 campuses on five continents: Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe, and North America.
Le'Passion Darby's collections
Martin Luther King, Jr..: The Later Years (1965 -1968)
<p>Martin Luther King Jr.’s fight for equality did not end with the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965. In his last years, King’s focus shifted toward achieving economic equality and combating poverty in the United States, denouncing the United States’ involvement in the Vietnam War, and contending with the rise of The Black Power Movement. This Learning Lab highlights documents, images, objects, and media from the National Museum of African American History and Culture and other Smithsonian units that help to tell the story of Martin Luther King Jr.’s final years, his assassination, and his enduring legacy.</p>
<p><em>#historicalthinking</em></p><p>Keywords: African American, NMAAHC, Martin Luther King, Jr., American History, Vietnam War, The Black Power Movement, Civil Rights Act of 1964, Votings Rights Act of 1965</p>
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Le'Passion Darby
48
An Evolution of Expression
<p>The eclectic and time-honored art form of quilting has been used as a material expression of ideologies, social stances, and culture. Though the basic process of quilting involves the sewing of two or more layers of fabric, quilters have increasingly integrated materials, symbols, words, and individual styles with communicative, celebratory, and decorative intentions. </p>
<p>This collection displays digitized images of quilts that reflect the diversity of the quilting tradition in America. Some quilts have been displayed at the National Museum of African American History and Culture and others at the National Museum of the American Indian. The Smithsonian’s National Quilt Collection is housed at the National Museum of American History. </p>
<p>This collection includes an article that explores the evolution and artistry of quilting and a list of discussion questions that can be used to analyze the collection. </p>
<p>Keywords: African American, NMAAHC, American History, Quilts</p><p></p>
Le'Passion Darby
9
The Emancipation Proclamation: Manuscripts of Freedom
<p>The Smithsonian Institute holds several digitized manuscripts that outline the path to freedom for African Americans with the most central being the Emancipation Proclamation. On January 1, 1963, President Abraham Lincoln signed the Proclamation as a military act that freed slaves in the rebellion states. The document itself, however, succeeded the District of Columbia Emancipation Act (1962), which freed slaves in Washington, D.C. eight months prior, and proceeded the 13th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution and the Juneteenth Proclamation. One hundred years later, President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which specified social justice mandates not written in the aforementioned documents. The Act outlawed discrimination in the United States and legally instituted what the Emancipation Proclamation only proposed.<br /></p>
<p>This collection chronicles the drafting of these five critical manuscripts and the events and ideologies that spurred subsequent legislation. Students will study digitized images of the Emancipation Proclamation and examine reasons that portions of the text necessitated legal amendments. The collection includes a student activity for teacher use.</p>
<p>Keywords: African American History, American History, NMAAHC, The District of Columbia Emancipation Act, Emancipation Proclamation, 13th Amendment, Juneteenth, Civil Rights Act of 1964
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Le'Passion Darby
20
The Pullman Porters and the Railcar: Nexuses of the Great Migration
<p>The Pullman Porters and the railcar were carriers of hope during the era known as the Great Migration. Pullman Porters were employed by George Pullman who created the nation’s first luxury railcar and made his home in Chicago, Illinois. During the Great Migration, hundreds of thousands of African Americans sought greater employment and housing opportunities in northern cities like Chicago, Pittsburgh, and New York. They traveled to the North primarily on railcars though segregated from white passengers and in less comfortable conditions. The Pullman Porters were pillars in the Black community and made positive impacts on African American migrants, entrepreneurs, and social causes effecting the Black community. <br /></p>
<p>This collection displays the story of the Pullman Porters and demonstrates the railcar as a nexus of the Great Migration. A restored Pullman Palace railcar, Southern Railway No. 1200, is now housed at the National Museum of African American History and Culture. <br /></p>
<p>Keywords: Pullman Porters, George Pullman, Railcars, The Great Migration, NMAAHC, African American History, American History<br /></p>
Le'Passion Darby
13
The Harlem Renaissance
<p>The Harlem Renaissance was a social and artistic movement of the 1920s that took place in the eclectic neighborhood of Harlem, New York. African-Americans, many of whom had migrated from the South to escape the harsh realities of racism and segregation, brought Harlem to life during this era with music, dance, poetry, film, education, literature, entrepreneurship, and social activism. This unprecedented revolution and its icons birthed knowledge and artistry that continues to impact American culture today. Such icons include Zora Neale Hurston, Mary McLeod Bethune, Madam C.J. Walker, Oscar Micheaux, Duke Ellington, W.E.B. DuBois, Langston Hughes, and Mahalia Jackson. </p>
<p> The individual contributions of these “Harlemites” were so distinguished that the Citizen’s Stamp Advisory Committee (CSAG) of the United States Postal Service selected each to be commemorated on a United States Postage Stamp. These stamps have been digitized and are housed at the Smithsonian’s National Postal Museum.</p>
<p>The Harlem Renaissance Collection includes a video on each Harlem Renaissance icon and an activity that teachers can use in the classroom.</p>
<p>Keywords: NMAAHC, National Postal Museum, American History, African American History, Harlem Renaissance, Zora Neale Hurston, Mary McLeod Bethune, Madam C.J. Walker, Oscar Micheaux, Duke Ellington, W.E.B. DuBois, Langston Hughes, Mahalia Jackson<br /></p>
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Le'Passion Darby
11
Madam C. J. Walker as An Inventor
<p>Many people recognize Madam C. J. Walker as an entrepreneur, but who was Madam C. J. Walker as an inventor?<br /></p>
<p>This collection provides a rare perspective of Walker through the lens of invention. From her scientific hair care formulas, genius marketing strategies, and precise business systems, Madam C. J. Walker invented products and enterprises that led her to become America’s first female self-made millionaire. Walker was born Sarah Breedlove in 1867 and was the daughter of slaves. In addition to being an inventor, she was also an entrepreneur, philanthropist, and a political and social activist. </p>
<p>The collection includes short answer questions for each slide and a reflective assignment that teachers can use post-activity. </p>
<p>Keywords: NMAAHC, American History, African American History, Women Inventors, Women Entrepreneurs</p>
Le'Passion Darby
9
Harris-Stowe State University Collection
<p>On
March 22, 2018, the Upward Bound Tech & Tour Team organized by Le’Passion
Darby, Office of Minority Student Affairs, University of Illinois at
Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) completed a Digital Photography Practicum at
Harris-Stowe State University. Harris-Stowe State University is a <u><a href="http://learninglab.si.edu/q/r/2965826" target="_blank">Historically Black University</a> </u>(or HBCU) located in St. Louis, Missouri (USA). This
collection includes photographs and videos taken and curated by Upward Bound
students. </p>
<p>Upward Bound is a federally funded program sponsored by the U.S.
Department of Education and is part of the Federal TRiO Programs. The program’s
objective is to support participants in their preparation for college entrance.
</p>
<p>UIUC’s Upward Bound Tech & Tour Program trains students in the
use of digital tools to document their experience during visits to higher education institutions, and to
take a curatorial look at the sites and artifacts on campus, providing students
with practical opportunities for professional and marketing skills in digital
arts. Learning Lab was used as the host platform for the curated content and
SCLDA staff provided a webinar and feedback during the project. </p>
<p>Harris-Stowe State University (1857) is named for American
abolitionist and author Harriet Beecher Stowe and U.S. Commissioner of
Education (1889) William Torrey Harris. Originally, two separate, segregated
colleges focused on teacher training (1857, 1890) - the campuses were integrated
as a result of Brown v. Board (1954) - and today, Harris-Stowe State University
is a multi-degree university with an emphasis on entrepreneurship, education, and urban affairs. </p>
<p>Student curators for this collection are: Alie W., Leavell A., and
Tara H. </p>
<p>For a view of the program’s curriculum, see: <u>Upward
Bound Tech & Tour: Harris Stowe-State University.</u> </p>
<p>Extra links in the text link to various contextualized Learning Lab
collections: </p>
<p>· Historically Black University links to <a href="http://learninglab.si.edu/q/r/2965826" target="_blank"><u></u></a><u><a href="http://learninglab.si.edu/q/r/2965826">http://learninglab.si.edu/q/r/...</a></u></p>
<p>· Abolitionist links to <a href="http://learninglab.si.edu/q/ll-c/oANTipTB5gveXuUv" target="_blank"><u></u></a><u><a href="http://learninglab.si.edu/q/ll-c/oANTipTB5gveXuUv">http://learninglab.si.edu/q/ll...</a></u></p>
<p>· Harriet Beecher Stowe links to <a href="http://learninglab.si.edu/q/r/43994" target="_blank"><u></u></a><u><a href="http://learninglab.si.edu/q/r/43994">http://learninglab.si.edu/q/r/...</a></u></p>
<p>· Brown v. Board links to <a href="http://learninglab.si.edu/q/ll-c/3NDW784qfmHWDFy3" target="_blank"><u></u></a><u><a href="http://learninglab.si.edu/q/ll-c/3NDW784qfmHWDFy3">http://learninglab.si.edu/q/ll...</a></u></p>
<p></p>
Le'Passion Darby
63
Artifacts at Historically Black Colleges and Universities
<p>"Artifacts at Historically Black Colleges and Universitities" includes ten artifacts from Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) throughout the United States. This collection can be used to educate students about HBCU culture, history, alumni, founders, and achievement.</p>
Le'Passion Darby
12
