America’s Disregard of Black History
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Throughout history, African Americans have been predisposed to life at the lower end of American society. The blatant mistreatment and diminishment of Black people in America by their government is still, in many ways, an open wound for their communities. Economically, politically, and socially, Black Americans face challenges in almost every area of their lives. However, the United States and its government still fail in many ways to acknowledge its wrongdoings and move forward progressively. The censorship of Black voices and history is just one of those ways. After all, how can we learn from history if we have no knowledge of it?
There are only bare traces of Black history and historical figures in American education; children learn about the legacies of Martin Luther King, Jr. and Rosa Parks, but not much else. Even in higher education levels, students are minimally exposed to America’s harsh treatment of African Americans and important Black figures.
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The advancement of education on Black history has come with the introduction of the AP African American Studies class, first tested in classrooms during the 2022-23 school year. 60 schools around the country piloted the course to positive feedback, even reported to have been transformative for students. However, despite these reactions, there was a significant amount of pushback. Florida Governor, Ron DeSantis, expressed his vehement opposition to the course. It was banned in January 2023 by the Florida Department of Education. Officials said the course is “inexplicably contrary to Florida law and significantly lacks educational value.” Additionally, the class was met with pushback from the Arkansas state government, with Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders saying the state “cannot perpetuate a lie to our students and push this propaganda leftist agenda.” Students who take the class in the state cannot get the high school credit due. Discussion of critical race theory and “divisive” ideas from conservatives has greatly fueled this opposition, with the former being often misrepresented to further many’s political agendas.
The direct resistance to racially progressive education also continues with the banning of books relating to Black history and stories along with anti-racist ideas. Books like Angie Thomas’ “The Hate U Give” and many works by Toni Morrisson, among others, have been banned in schools. Their stories offer a perspective on what it means to be Black in America, ones that need to be heard to initiate progress.
Labeling racially progressive education as “divisive” and “lacking in educational value” is dismissing African-American history and as a result, American history as a whole. As a society and through the government, there is a responsibility to provide education about all perspectives and open it to discussion. Lack of accountability is all too common all throughout America - and censorship of Black history further accepts and normalizes the racist systems in place while pushing ideals of white supremacy.
The consequences of things like colonialism and slavery are still being felt today by the communities impacted. Many parts of history might be uncomfortable for people to address, so much so that they are completely swept under the rug. But the discomfort associated with those areas of history is a minuscule obstacle to overcome in comparison to the overarching goal: relearning our history so we can experience unbridled progress. The United States of America is a country that has yet to reckon with its history and its wrongdoings fully, and by fighting to keep racially progressive education in schools, it can take a massive step towards doing so.
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