NATIONAL HISTORY DAY & THE BUILDING OF THE PANAMA CANAL: DEATH, DISEASE & DICRIMINATION

National History Day is a US-based charitable organization that runs an annual history contest with the same name for students in grades 6-12. This academic contest is open to students from the United States as well as American Samoa, Guam , Puerto Rico and some countries in Central America and Asia.

Each year, the new National History Day theme is announced, and students select a topic appropriate for that theme. Students must also decide which category to enter. Students compete first within their schools, then at their Regional Contest, then at their State or Affiliate Contest, and then finally at the National Contest. One must win at each level to advance to the next round.

Visit the official National History Day website to learn more about this academic competition: https://www.nhd.org

As a student, I participated in the National History Day contest for several years. I entered my projects in the Independent Documentary Category. Here are three of my films:

2020, January

BREAKING BARRIERS IN THE MINDS OF MEN: THE PATH TO PEACE IN NORTHERN IRELAND

Awards: Maryland State Special Prize-Peace Study Center Award (Cash Prize, Baltimore City Winner. Watch

2019, January

DEATH DISEASE & DISCRIMINATION: BUILDING THE PANAMA CANAL

Awards: Awarded Resolution MD Senate/House of Delegates; Selected National Museum of African American History and Culture Showcase; Qualified for Nationals, Maryland State Winner, Baltimore City Winner. Watch

2018, January

THE YUGOSLAV WARS: GENOCIDE WITHOUT JUSTICE

Awards: Qualified for Nationals; Maryland State Winner; Baltimore City Winner. Watch

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Students and educators will find additional examples of National History Day films online. Students should watch winning entries prior to starting their own projects. However, students should not submit the entries of other students as their own work, and they should not incorporate clips from other National History Day entries into their own completed projects.

Teachers should make sure to explain plagiarism to students at the beginning of the project. Plagiarism is not only reusing another person’s words but also another person’s original ideas and arguments.

Students should try to develop their own ideas and communicate them in their own voice. Consider looking at a topic from a new angle. My National History Day film “Death, Disease & Discrimination: Building The Panama Canal” discussed racial discrimination experienced by the Afro-Caribbean Silver workers during the construction of the Panama Canal, which was almost cutting-edge when I created this film as a high school student. In his massive book The Path Between the Seas: The Creation of the Panama Canal, 1870–1914, author David McCullough, barely discussed the plight of the Silver workers, which was one reason why I selected this topic.

“Death, Disease & Discrimination” progressed to Nationals and was selected for screening at the National Museum of African American History and Culture Showcase. This film has been incorporated into educational curricula at middle and high schools, and colleges and universities across the nation.

Acceptable Ways to Use “Death, Disease & Discrimination”

• Educators and Students may use this link to watch the film. 

• Educators and Students may screen the film in the classroom or at school club meetings. 

• Educators may include this film on course syllabi and in lists of recommended viewing. 

• Please credit me for my work.

Unacceptable Ways to Use “Death, Disease & Discrimination”

• Do not screen the film without showing title card and credits.

• Do not charge people to view this film. This film was created for educational purposes.

• Do not make or disseminate copies of this film.

• Do not reuse portions of this film for National History Day or other competitions.

• Do not plagiarize my work by using my title, script, or ideas without crediting me.

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