[CrimsonTide4]

IDEAL and I both had Mr. Johnson (a man of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.) and I also was taught by Ms. Campbell.


A longer lesson in black history

03/02/02

Lila J. Mills
Plain Dealer Reporter

Warrensville Heights

- Lessons in black history last longer than 28 days in February at Warrensville Heights High School.



In an attempt to boost students' self-esteem, school administrators this year made a course in black history and one on black literature requirements for graduation.

"Young African-Americans know so little about their history," Board of Education member Martha Bonner said. And learning about important, but little-known, black accomplishments should give students more academic confidence, she added.

The district, which is more than 99 percent black, serves about 3,000 students from Warrensville Heights, North Randall and Highland Hills. It is believed to be the only district in Northeast Ohio with mandatory black history and literature classes, although other schools offer the courses.

The history class begins with the slave trade and the American Revolution and ends at the civil rights movement. In literature class, students read material that varies from slave narratives to the poetry of Rita Dove.

A number of research papers are required in both of the semester-long classes. Students also complete daily assignments including a project that outlines the meaning of African names.

In a recent class, history teacher Hal Johnson strolled the aisles dressed in a flowing African tunic.

He outlined the role of runaway slave Crispus Attucks in the Boston Massacre, the notorious clash that led to the American Revolution.

Attucks was the first person to die fighting British soldiers that day.

Police blamed Rodney King for his beating in Los Angeles, Johnson said, "and the same thing happened with this man, Crispus Attucks in Boston. The lawyer [John Adams, who would later become the second U.S. president] blamed Crispus Attucks."

Murmurs rippled through the classroom.

Mikila Jones, 17, creased her brow and ran her fingers along her perfectly locked cornrows. "So if [Adams] was so bad," she said, "why did they name a school after him?"

"You have schools named after these men all across the country," Johnson said, "because these men were leaders. The Boston Tea Party, the Declaration of Independence - they were involved in all of that. But remember, you have to read more to find out the true character of these men."

Although some students challenged Johnson's interpretation of Adams and Attucks, they said they enjoy his class.

"In this class, everything is about our ancestors," said Taisha Cromity, 15, as Johnson moved on to the next lesson and played music by Aretha Franklin, Marvin Gaye and the Jackson 5. "It makes me feel good. Now I know there are more [black] leaders than they show on TV."

Literature teacher Debra Campbell, who has been teaching for 19 years, hopes the required classes will catch on in other districts that aren't predominantly black.

"I would like to see other schools start teaching it," she said. "It is American history, after all. Don't just limit [black history] to February and then try to cram everything in."