Civics Class for a Country in Crisis
The Future of Democracy Prize WinnerImani Laird is a Future of Democracy Prize winner. This essay is part of Democracy Defenders Fund’s anthology of young voices grappling with a defining question: What will it take for democracy not only to survive, but to thrive?
“Civics Class for a Country in Crisis” is an exploration into American democracy and the current state of civics education. Young documentarian Imani Laird warns Americans are forgetting the many successes of our democracy—and in turn, they are failing to preserve it.
From hard fought wins including abolishing slavery, expanding voting rights, and maintaining a free press, to the ability to choose the individuals and parties controlling the White House and Congress, democracy brings a deep capacity for change and renewal.
America must have a mandatory civics education curriculum that teaches the value of democracy and what is required of citizens if it is to work well. Democracy thrives when citizens understand it and are prepared to carry it forward.
