While U.S. History, which, at best, does not present anything more than a snapshot of black history, remains a requirement in most educational institutions across the Nation, black history is not shown the same consideration as it barely ‘makes it by’ in many schools as a soft elective. European history is also given more regard, often being the history elective that is most pushed, sadly, even in those school districts with profound concentrations of black students.
In addition, consider that when credible contentions have been made to have black history become a requirement, those contentions have been met with great challenge. For instance, in 2005, a decision by School Reform Commission of the Philadelphia Public School Board to make African-American History a requirement for graduation sparked passionate outcries. Some parents threatened to take their children out of the public school system and place them inside of parochial institutions.
Parents and critics complained that by mandating the study of black history, the histories of other cultures were being denied. In fact, opponents stated that other cultures deserved equal class time and that forcing to take black history courses could breed resentment rather than understanding. Other detractors argue that by taking a mandatory black history course, students will not have time for other electives.
While these arguments look as if they are reasonable, going beyond a cursory glance of them reveal how extremely specious they are and how they are actually couched in the very reality of racial amnesia that has caused black history to be intensely overlooked. First of all, studying black history in a country that blacks help to build should not be irresponsibly disregarded because of the supposed limitations it would place on learning non-compulsory, oft-times inconsequential subjects.
Teaching black history as a mandatory subject acknowledges the history of black America that has not been given regard. It also provides Americans with a knowledge that better helps them understand a critical context of their society and their own lived experiences in a racially diverse America that proclaims to be behind that diversity and multiculturalism as well. Yet, by desiring that black studies remain as an elective, black history continues to be treated as trivial, secondary and of no particular essentiality.
Take into account that even inside the usually liberal American academy, black history has not been assigned the level of importance it deserves. For emphasis, how many Ph.D. programs are available in black history across the country? Save a few with the most notable program in the country, perhaps, being at Harvard University, there are not many institutions that offer more than a certificate-based curriculum that certifies that black history was a part of the overall program engaged. Is the black experience in this country not sizeable enough to warrant a concentrated study of its history that can draw upon doctoral considerations? Whereas there has been steady progress, black history continues to not necessitate the demand for a Ph.D. program.
Article comments
1 - JustOneMan
What about Italian, Polish, German, Irish, Indian, Chinese, etc, etc, etc....
JOM
2 - zingzing
did you read the article, jom, or just the title?
3 - Doug Hunter
"it would let white America off the hook"
Tell you what. You let me off the hook for slavery and I'll let you off the hook for gang violence, then as Freeman suggested we'll be back to treating each other as individuals. (which is the only workable long term solution)
4 - Baronius
This article fails to provide evidence that black history is underrepresented outside February. Even if it did, it never addresses the point of Freeman's comments: that Black History Month is intellectual segregation.
5 - ETS
Baronius -
How about you provide evidence that black history IS adequately represented outside of February? Or even DURING February, for that matter?
"Intellectual segregation" is an overly academic term that means absolutely nothing. All fields of study are segregated to some extent. They have to be to be sufficiently studied/recognized.
The bottom line is that histories of underrepresented groups wouldn't have to be individually celebrated if our country embraced a more wholistic concept of history. It's an old and simple solution for an even older and more simple issue.
6 - ETS
Doug Hunter -
You have us on the hook for gang violence? LOL. Are you keeping whites on that hook too, considering their gang and mob-like mentalities are evident throughout world history.