History matters. When young people of color are exposed only to our country’s ‘master narrative,’ a story that conveniently excludes the struggles and accomplishments of oppressed groups, they have a difficult time believing in themselves and in people who look like them. Our nonviolence trainings include examination of under-told aspects of progressive historical movements as a way of empowering young people today. High school students are often surprised to learn that many social movements were led by people about their same age.