PIC 350 Beyond and B’tween Pratt’s Gates: Unseen Histories of Social Reform and Protest

PIC 350 Beyond and B’tween Pratt’s Gates: Unseen Histories of Social Reform and Protest

Introduction

• Brief explanation of PIC 350 Beyond and B’tween Pratt’s Gates
• Importance of understanding social reform and protest histories

Pratt Institute’s Role in Social Reform

• History of Pratt Institute and its involvement in social reform
• Key players in Pratt Institute’s social reform movements
• Impact of Pratt Institute’s social reform efforts on the community

The Civil Rights Movement and Pratt Institute

• Pratt Institute’s involvement in the Civil Rights Movement
• Key players and events in Pratt Institute’s participation
• Impact of Pratt Institute’s participation on the Civil Rights Movement

The Women’s Movement and Pratt Institute

• Pratt Institute’s involvement in the Women’s Movement
• Key players and events in Pratt Institute’s participation
• Impact of Pratt Institute’s participation on the Women’s Movement

The LGBTQ+ Movement and Pratt Institute

• Pratt Institute’s involvement in the LGBTQ+ Movement
• Key players and events in Pratt Institute’s participation
• Impact of Pratt Institute’s participation on the LGBTQ+ Movement

The Environmental Movement and Pratt Institute

• Pratt Institute’s involvement in the Environmental Movement
• Key players and events in Pratt Institute’s participation
• Impact of Pratt Institute’s participation on the Environmental Movement

Conclusion

• Summary of the article’s main points
• Importance of understanding social reform and protest histories
• Call to action for readers to continue learning about social reform and protest histories

FAQs

1. What is PIC 350 Beyond and B’tween Pratt’s Gates?

• PIC 350 is a course offered at Pratt Institute that focuses on the history of social reform and protest at the institute and in the surrounding community.

2. Why is it important to understand social reform and protest histories?

• Understanding social reform and protest histories helps us to better understand current social and political issues and the impact of past movements on the present.

3. How did Pratt Institute participate in the Civil Rights Movement?

• Pratt Institute participated in the Civil Rights Movement through student activism and support for civil rights organizations and events.

4. What was Pratt Institute’s role in the Women’s Movement?

• Pratt Institute played a role in the Women’s Movement through the establishment of the Women’s Studies Program and support for women’s rights organizations and events.

5. How did Pratt Institute participate in the Environmental Movement?

• Pratt Institute participated in the Environmental Movement through the establishment of the Environmental Programs Department and support for environmental organizations and events.

Introduction

PIC 350 Beyond and B’tween Pratt’s Gates is a course offered at Pratt Institute that explores the unseen histories of social reform and protest at the institute and in the surrounding community. The course delves into the role that Pratt Institute has played in various social reform movements, including the Civil Rights Movement, the Women’s Movement, the LGBTQ+ Movement, and the Environmental Movement. Understanding the histories of these movements is important as it helps us to better understand current social and political issues and the impact of past movements on the present.

Pratt Institute’s Role in Social Reform

Pratt Institute has a long history of involvement in social reform movements. From its founding in 1887, the institute has emphasized the importance of education for all, regardless of race, gender, or social status. In the early 20th century, Pratt Institute played a key role in the settlement house movement, which aimed to provide education, healthcare, and social services to immigrants and other marginalized groups in urban areas.

During the mid-20th century, Pratt Institute became a hub for social reform movements. Students and faculty members were involved in a variety of social justice causes, including civil rights, women’s rights, LGBTQ+ rights, and environmentalism. The institute provided a space for dialogue, activism, and community organizing, and its influence extended beyond the campus to the wider Brooklyn community.

Key players in Pratt Institute’s social reform movements include faculty members like Betty Blayton, who co-founded the Studio Museum in Harlem and advocated for greater representation of African American artists in the art world, and the Black Emergency Cultural Coalition, a group of artists and activists who protested the Whitney Museum’s exhibition “Black Artists in America” for its exclusion of black artists.

The Civil Rights Movement and Pratt Institute

During the Civil Rights Movement, Pratt Institute students and faculty were actively involved in the struggle for racial justice. In 1963, Pratt Institute students organized a demonstration in support of the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, and the institute provided buses to transport students to the march. Students also participated in sit-ins, boycotts, and other direct actions in support of civil rights.

Pratt Institute faculty members were also involved in the Civil Rights Movement. Art professor Peter Bradley created posters and other materials for civil rights organizations, and English professor William Harris was a member of the Congress of Racial Equality (CORE) and worked as a Freedom Rider in the South.

The impact of Pratt Institute’s participation in the Civil Rights Movement was significant. The institute’s support for civil rights organizations and events helped to raise awareness of the movement and to mobilize support for racial justice.

The Women’s Movement and Pratt Institute

In the Women’s Movement, Pratt Institute played a key role in advancing the cause of women’s rights. In 1970, the institute established the Women’s Studies Program, one of the first of its kind in the United States. The program provided a space for women’s voices and perspectives to be heard and offered courses and resources on topics such as gender and sexuality, women’s health, and women’s history.

Pratt Institute students and faculty were also involved in women’s rights activism outside of the classroom. Students organized protests, sit-ins, and other actions in support of women’s rights, and faculty members like art historian Linda Nochlin advocated for greater representation of women artists in the art world.

The impact of Pratt Institute’s participation in the Women’s Movement was significant. The institute’s support for women’s rights helped to raise awareness of gender inequality and to advance the cause of women’s liberation.

The LGBTQ+ Movement and Pratt Institute

Pratt Institute has a long history of support for LGBTQ+ rights. In the 1970s and 1980s, the institute provided a space for LGBTQ+ students and faculty to organize and advocate for their rights. The institute’s LGBTQ+ student group, B’tween, was one of the first of its kind in the United States and provided a supportive community for LGBTQ+ students.

Pratt Institute students and faculty were also involved in LGBTQ+ activism outside of the campus. Students participated in demonstrations and other actions in support of LGBTQ+ rights, and faculty members like art historian Richard Meyer and graphic designer Maira Kalman have made significant contributions to LGBTQ+ art and culture.

The impact of Pratt Institute’s participation in the LGBTQ+ Movement was significant. The institute’s support for LGBTQ+ rights helped to raise awareness of LGBTQ+ issues and to advance the cause of LGBTQ+ liberation.

The Environmental Movement and Pratt Institute

Pratt Institute has been a leader in environmental education and sustainability for decades. In 1984, the institute established the Environmental Programs Department, which offered courses and resources on topics such as environmental science, policy, and design. The department also spearheaded sustainability initiatives on campus, such as the installation of solar panels and the implementation of a composting program.

Pratt Institute students and faculty have also been involved in environmental activism outside of the campus. Students organized protests, rallies, and other actions in support of environmental causes, and faculty members like environmental science professor Andrew Revkin have made significant contributions to environmental journalism and advocacy.

The impact of Pratt Institute’s participation in the Environmental Movement has been significant. The institute’s commitment to sustainability and environmental education has helped to raise awareness of environmental issues and to promote sustainable practices both on and off campus.

Beyond and B’tween Pratt’s Gates: Unseen Histories of Social Reform and Protest

The social reform movements at Pratt Institute are an important part of the institute’s history and legacy. These movements were driven by a commitment to social justice, equality, and progress, and they have had a lasting impact on the institute and the wider community.

While many of these movements have been well-documented and celebrated, there are also many unseen histories of social reform and protest at Pratt Institute. These histories include the stories of individual students and faculty members who were involved in activism and advocacy, as well as the ways in which these movements intersected and influenced one another.

By uncovering and sharing these unseen histories, we can gain a deeper understanding of the social reform movements at Pratt Institute and their impact on the wider world. We can also celebrate the contributions of the many individuals who have worked tirelessly to advance the cause of social justice and equality.

In conclusion, the social reform movements at Pratt Institute are an integral part of the institute’s history and legacy. From the Civil Rights Movement to the Environmental Movement, these movements have been driven by a commitment to social justice, equality, and progress. By exploring the unseen histories of social reform and protest at Pratt Institute, we can gain a deeper understanding of these movements and their lasting impact on the institute and the wider community.

FAQs

1. What was Pratt Institute’s role in the Civil Rights Movement?

• Pratt Institute students and faculty were actively involved in the struggle for racial justice, organizing demonstrations and providing support for civil rights organizations and events.

2. What was the impact of Pratt Institute’s participation in the Women’s Movement?

• Pratt Institute’s support for women’s rights helped to raise awareness of gender inequality and to advance the cause of women’s liberation.

3. What was B’tween and its significance?

• B’tween was Pratt Institute’s LGBTQ+ student group, one of the first of its kind in the United States, and provided a supportive community for LGBTQ+ students.

4. What is the Environmental Programs Department at Pratt Institute?

• The Environmental Programs Department at Pratt Institute is a department that offers courses and resources on topics such as environmental science, policy, and design, and spearheads sustainability initiatives on campus.

5. Why is it important to explore the unseen histories of social reform and protest at Pratt Institute?

• By uncovering and sharing these unseen histories, we can gain a deeper understanding of the social reform movements at Pratt Institute and their impact on the wider world, as well as celebrate the contributions of individual activists and advocates.