California K-12 curricula have often failed to incorporate the experiences and cultures of communities within the state, marginalizing the histories of People of Color. With the growing diversity of the state, it is imperative that California’s curriculum actively reflects these demographics. Incorporating the life of Nathan Harrison, an African American born into slavery in the Antebellum South who later became San Diego’s first Black landowner and a local legend, can help to diversify the curriculum, and promote Black history. This thesis will examine K-12 resources and materials made available by the California Department of Education in order to identify how best to construct lesson plans regarding Nathan Harrison in order to be adopted into classrooms. This study is important because it relates to the larger societal and systemic issues in the United States, addressing the often-Eurocentric curriculum taught in schools and advocating for class content that acknowledges and embraces diversity. In addition, archaeology helps to identify connections and resonances between the past and present which in turn can help to promote efforts of inclusion in school curriculum. In a country that is experiencing growing diversity in its population, it is essential that California’s curriculum effectively reflects and promotes its diverse population. Once completed, this research will have created a K-12 curriculum regarding the Nathan Harrison project while simultaneously meeting the goals of multicultural education and public archaeology.
