American Classical League Institute 2024

What are the connections between the first Black Pulitzer Prize winner Gwendolyn Brooks and the ancient Roman poet Virgil? Or between the Indian Ramayana epic and the Greek Odyssean epic? While leaning into these relationships– especially when they involve pop culture references– can increase student engagement and improve Latin language learning, they also help students recognize the role of Classics in their everyday lives. Elements from Classical times are present in American systems of power, and examining Classical texts will help us step into the shoes of authorities across time to understand how widespread policies and biases have developed. This message has become increasingly important in modern society, where Classical elements are often misused and weaponized to support white supremacy and other harmful ideologies. This session will identify specific activities to introduce Classical reception to middle school and high school students in Latin classrooms.