The following unit surveys the struggles and triumphs within the African American economic narrative through the medium of art: photography, film, television, and theater. Financial security is a pursuit shared by every race, religion, and gender. Although it has often been considered taboo at the dinner table, it remains a constant in our 9-5 routines. Our finances impact the quality of healthcare we receive, the type of roof that rests over our heads, and the quality of education provided for our closest kin. The following unit tells several stories connected to this reality as it examines the psychology and sociology connected to the African American struggles, depicting various artists' attempts to communicate economic themes through several media. The unit pushes students to think critically about the idea of college and the financial implications connected to the careers they pursue. How does it help, and what degrees provide different levels of lifestyles? How do minorities handle being alone at tables of influence, and how can they use their power to pull others up, giving back to those whom society has often seen as unfit to have equal access to Kid Cudi's and Will Smith's "Pursuit of Happiness"? The content provides a narrative with an opening blueprint to a sounder financial foundation. The various readings within the curriculum provide lessons on financial literacy that students can use to create, plan, and apply in their life pursuits. Students will also have the chance to look at works of art from Gordon Parks, Titus Kaphar, and Noah Davis in order to dissect the visual interpretations of the situation and its consequences.

(Developed for U. S. History, grade 11, and Social Justice, grade 12; recommended for Sociology and U. S. History, grade 11, and Psychology and Social Justice, grade 12)