Profiles of Courage

Research has found that learning about the heroic actions of people who stood up against injustice can be very important. It has a positive impact on individuals’ attitudes toward groups about which they hold negative views. It can even inspire learners to resist injustice.

Many historical narratives can simplify complex social movements and the individuals who led them. For example, the heroic efforts of Martin Luther King, Jr., and Rosa Parks are admirable, but they are only a piece of a multilayered story of courage. We want to shed light on individuals whose acts of courage linger in the background. Their efforts, large and small, allow all of us to shine.