Farmers Assists with Black History Educational Initiative

Farmers Insurance Group has partnered with the Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH) to bring an African-American documentary film — “Freedom’s Song: 100 years of African-American struggle and triumph” to classrooms nationwide. The “Freedom’s Song” program will officially launch in Houston, Texas, on Feb. 16, 2006, but other cities including Colorado Springs on February 17, Los Angeles on February 21 and Washington, D.C., on February 24 are on the lineup.

The documentary highlights significant milestones in the history of the African-American experience during the past century. It includes living testimonials designed to put a personal face on the actual historical events featured in the film. Among the interviewees on the film are Dr. Dorothy Height, Reverend Jesse Jackson, and Dr. John Hope Franklin, among others.

“It is so important for students to gain more knowledge and hear stories of the great accomplishments that African Americans have made to this country,” said Jeffrey Beyer, chief communications officer for Farmers. “We believe that African-American history is important to understanding American history, and this program shows how both are interwoven.”

ASALH, which claims to be the founder of African-American History month, helps to promote, research, preserve, interpret and disseminate information about African-American life, history and culture to the global community.

The “Freedom’s Song” package will be free to educators and will include a DVD copy of the film, lesson plans and an interactive Web site (www.freedomssong.net) that includes continually updated audio and video content, and teachers’ curriculum. The project was made possible through a grant from Farmers.

Topics Agribusiness