Image Credit: ChatGPT
Black history and its relevance to the growth of American society has always been an intense topic of debate more so during controversial circumstances like the civil rights movement marches, police brutality, racism, and protests such as the Black Lives Matter marches, among many other situations that have caused African Americans to continually remind the nation of their contributions to the growth of the American society.
While Black history instruction has begun taking root as part of the educational curriculum in many states within the United States, the road to achieving this feat had not been one devoid of political and cultural undertones. Due to the need to ensure accurate historical recognition, Black history instruction had been slow in taking root as compared to celebrations surrounding Black History Month.
Being recognized for the first time by President Gerald R. Ford on February 10, 1976, the event which is usually celebrated at this time of the year had come about through the efforts of activist, historian, and author – Carter G. Woodson, whom in 1926 along with other members of the African American Life and History organization (ASALH) started the Negro history week that would later grow to be recognized as Black history month.
As part of efforts to recognize and celebrate the legacies of Fredrick Douglas and Abraham Lincoln, two notable abolitionists who stood in the frontier fight against ending slavery, the event which was a weekly celebration would find its way into college campuses under seminars, symposiums, and marches.
Although President Gerald R. Ford became the first President to recognize Black history week signing a resolution in 1975 to that effect and issuing a Presidential message which enjoined all Americans to “seize the opportunity to honor the too-often neglected accomplishments of Black Americans in every area of endeavor throughout our history.” It would not be until 1986 that Congress would pass a public law recognizing the month of February as “National Black History Month”
Over subsequent years, the conversations have shifted from not only just recognizing and celebrating Black history month but to instituting Black history instructions as part of the curriculum of schools within the United States.
Over the years, several state legislatures have taken steps to integrate Black History and culture as part of instructions into regular school curricula within their various states. As pointed out by Bryan Kelley a former policy analyst at the Education Commission of the States, he stated that “Since 2020, at least 57 bills have been introduced that seek to expand multicultural education; at least 25 specifically involve Black history. Florida, New Jersey, Virginia, and Washington have all enacted legislation either expanding multicultural education generally or expanding Black history instruction”.
As states like Philadelphia lead the vanguard in instituting Black history teachings at the K-12 levels, and also requiring classes in African American history to graduate high school, measures have also been taken to provide necessary training, materials as well and other kinds of support to teachers to ensure students are properly exposed to lessons in Black history and how these lessons can play a role in modern-day experiences.
More states have committed to towing this same path, according to Journalist Sierra Lyons in her publication for Yahoo News, she states that “12 states (Arkansas, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Illinois, Mississippi, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Washington) have Black history mandates for K-12 public schools. In addition, Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, and Rhode Island have legislated Black history courses or electives during the last two years. But several of the 12 states have new laws on the books that limit their curriculum.”
As more and more states come on board, the opportunity for all Americans irrespective of race to learn more about the nation’s history and that of African Americans, and also find ways to build a more inclusive society and find common grounds on issues will continue to strengthen cohesiveness among all races while ensuring the continued contributions of Blacks in the development of the United States of America is acknowledged and celebrated.
Okechukwu Nzeribe works with the Onitsha Chamber of Commerce, in Anambra State, Nigeria, and loves unveiling the richness of African cultures. okechukwu.onicima@gmail.com
