Philadelphia Anti-Slavery Society Plaque Project

Introduction

As you have learned, the Philadelphia Female Anti-Slavery Society was a

multiracial coalition of women working to abolish slavery. Many Black women
served in the organization’s leadership and helped set the agenda-- considered
groundbreaking at the time even for abolitionist groups. However, the plaque
here in Philadelphia commemorating the Society only mentions white
abolitionist Lucretia Mott.

As a class, we will be working in small groups to put together a social media and
writing campaign, asking real state and local officials to change the Philadelphia
Female Anti-Slavery Society plaque to name and reflect the contributions of the
many Black women who were part of the Society and whose work helped end
slavery.

There will be five groups of 5-7 people, each responsible for working on a
different aspect of the campaign together over the coming week. Groups will be
announced on Friday, February 25th; please indicate your group preferences by
Thursday, February 24th at 8 PM using the form on Google Classroom.
The five group tasks are:
○ Creating a social media campaign
○ Writing a petition
○ Writing a letter to Gov. Wolf
○ Writing a letter to Mayor Kenney
○ Making a video to spread awareness

Monday, March 8th will be the last day to work on this in class. The timeline
included here is meant to keep you on track during class time but the final
project due date will be later in the week; we will announce a final due date
after seeing the progress you make in class.

For more specific information about each individual group, please use the
headings in this document to navigate.
 Social Media Campaign

This group is responsible for creating 5-10 social media graphics to raise
awareness about the Philadelphia Anti-Slavery Society and our class’s work to
change the plaque, to be posted on class Instagram and Twitter pages. You can
use Canva to make these graphics.

Timeline:
Monday, March 1: Complete any additional research about the Philadelphia
Anti-Slavery Society that will help you choose what to highlight in your posts. If
you use any outside sources, you must cite them in MLA format in small text at
the bottom of your graphic.
Tuesday, March 2: Create 1-2 posts as a group. These can be introductory posts
to our class project and/or highlighting some of the abolitionists we learned
about.
Wednesday, March 3: Create 2 posts.
Thursday, March 4: Create 2 posts. At this point, other groups should be far
enough along that you can begin highlighting what work they are doing as part
of your posts (example: you could create a graphic asking people to sign the
petition). You can use class time to collaborate with them.
Friday, March 5: Create 2 posts.
Monday, March 8 and for homework: Make edits with your group.

Writing a Petition

This group is responsible for writing a petition that other people can sign in
support of changing the plaque, and could be presented to state and local
officials along with our class’s letters. Use Change.org for this petition.

Timeline:
Monday, March 1: As a group, spend a class period researching the Philadelphia
Anti-Slavery Society to learn any additional facts you’d like to use as part of
your petition (including the names of the Black women who helped to start the
AASS). If you use any outside sources, you must cite them in MLA format at the
end of your petition.
Tuesday, March 2: Choose a title for the petition and also develop a Statement
of Purpose. This is the reason why you are petitioning (like a thesis statement in
an essay). It should be a simple, concise sentence that frames a very specific
goal.
● For example, you don't want to write, "We need a new annex for our local
library." Rather, you'd want to write something along the lines of "We
demand more research opportunities for our children and residents, and
only an additional wing to house these resources will do."
Wednesday, March 3: Write a first draft of 1-2 paragraphs of supporting detail to
include after your Statement of Purpose. This is a chance for you to show what
you have learned about the Philadelphia Anti-Slavery Society and highlight the
women that should be included on the plaque.
Thursday, March 4: Revise and edit your Statement of Purpose and your
supporting paragraphs as a group.
Friday, March 5: Make edits as a group.
Monday, March 8 and for homework: Upload to Change.org. Begin sharing the
petition among friends and family!

Writing a Letter (Gov. Wolf group)

This group is responsible for writing a letter to Governor Wolf asking the state
of Pennsylvania to change the plaque.

Monday, March 1: As a group, research the Philadelphia Anti-Slavery Society to

learn any additional facts you’d like to use as part of your letter. If you use any
outside sources, you must cite them in MLA format in an attached Works Cited
to your letter.
Tuesday, March 2: Research day 2: look into the requirements for changing the
plaque (which government agency is responsible? How long would this take?)
and who we should contact in the state government in addition to the governor.
Wednesday, March 3: Write an outline of your letter. You should have an intro to
introduce yourselves and our class, 2-3 body paragraphs explaining what you’ve
learned about the Philadelphia Anti-Slavery Society and how we should change
the plaque, and a conclusion asking the governor to act.
Thursday, March 4: Write your first draft of the letter together.
Friday, March 5: Keep drafting; begin to revise and edit.
Monday, March 8 and for homework: Continue to make edits with your group.

Writing a Letter (Mayor Kenney group)

This group is responsible for writing a letter to Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney.
While the state of Pennsylvania oversees changing the blue historical plaques
around the state, your group will be writing to Mayor Kenney to tell him about
our class plan and to encourage him to take steps at the city level to recognize
the women of the Philadelphia Anti-Slavery Society.

Monday, March 1: As a group, research the Philadelphia Anti-Slavery Society to

learn any additional facts you’d like to use as part of your letter. If you use any
outside sources, you must cite them in MLA format in an attached Works Cited
to your letter.
Tuesday, March 2: Research day 2: look into what can be done at the city level to
recognize the women of the Philadelphia Anti-Slavery Society (could the city
dedicate a plaque of its own? Declare a day to honor these women?) Identify one
action you would like the city to take.
Wednesday, March 3: Write an outline of your letter. You should have an intro to
introduce yourselves and our class, 2-3 body paragraphs explaining what you’ve
learned about the Philadelphia Anti-Slavery Society, our plan to ask Gov. Wolf to
change the plaque, and the action you would like the mayor to do to honor these
women. You should also have a conclusion.
Thursday, March 4: Write your first draft of the letter together.
Friday, March 5: Keep drafting; begin to revise and edit.
Monday, March 8 and for homework: Continue to make edits with your group.

Video Campaign

This group will be putting together a 4 minute video to spread awareness about
our class campaign to change the Philadelphia Anti-Slavery Society plaque. You
can do this on WeVideo.

Monday, March 1: As a group, research the Philadelphia Anti-Slavery Society to

learn any additional facts you’d like to use as part of your video If you use any
outside sources, you must cite them in MLA format in a Works Cited document
that you submit along with the video.
Tuesday, March 2: Write an outline of your script. You should introduce our
class, have a section explaining what you’ve learned about the Philadelphia
Anti-Slavery Society, a section explaining our plan to ask for the plaque to be
changed, and then a conclusion calling the audience to action.
Wednesday, March 3: Write the draft of your script together.
Thursday, March 4: Divide up the script and have individual group members
record themselves reading parts of it. Find pictures and clips that you want to
include (should be part of your Works Cited as well).
Friday, March 5: Put the video together in WeVideo.
Monday, March 8 and for homework: Continue to put the video together. Make
edits with your group.