Is our history relevant anymore?

[StrangeFruit]

Greetings Everyone.

Do you think we are gradually forgetting our history-Black History? I was talking to some friends and what came up was the fact that so many children don't even know about slavery.

Black History wasn't offered until I was a senior in high school (Class of 88). Thanks to my mother who made sure I knew my history, most of my education was acquired outside of the class room. Some friends don't feel it necessary to teach their children about where and from who they came from.

I think it's sad and important that we ensure that each generation know their history.

What do yall think?

[Steeltrap]

Parents need to be responsible, especially when the children are in predominantly white school settings. I'm older than you (Class of 1982), and it wasn't really taught in my suburban school that I was bused to.

I had to self-educate because my folks were of the mind that you shelter people.

[Senusret I]

I was lucky enough to be a reader when I was a child, and I was exposed to a lot of elements of Black History that I learned on my own. I also went to predominately black schools from K-12.

HOWEVER, one thing I noticed is the lack of black educational programming for kids nowadays. When I was coming up, we had Vegetable Soupl, that show about Grandmama Violet, and a few other specials and programs on PBS, not to mention Roots and other family movies.

What is there for kids now? At least for free on TV? I dunno....

[Jill1228]

Gurl, we must be related, because I have the same sheltering folx. (immediate family and extended). Ya know, the ones who don't want you to see "Roots" because the content makes them upset... The ones who don't want you to live back in the South because of what happened in the past. (I SO miss the South) I self educated myself, and let me tell you it is an education that NEVER ends

I thank my lucky stars for historians like Carter G. Woodson and John Hope Franklin. I will teach my kids and grandkids because sheltering them creates an adverse affect IMO (my husband didn't learn much of it because he is from Canada)

If you don't learn the history and learn FROM it, it is bound to be repeated

Originally posted by Steeltrap
Parents need to be responsible, especially when the children are in predominantly white school settings. I'm older than you (Class of 1982), and it wasn't really taught in my suburban school that I was bused to.

I had to self-educate because my folks were of the mind that you shelter people.

[Imperial1]

I'm pretty much proficient when it comes to black history.

Imperial1

[RedAngel]

Black History is very relevant!

When I was growing up---black history was taught at home and the church. I'm also in the class of '82. It especially helps if your grandmother's a former teacher. I was encouraged to learn about black history which is something that I pass on to my nephews, niece and other young people.

Regarding school, I remember Black history coming up in sixth grade but that was about it.

It concerns me too when some of the teens don't understand black history.

[Blueknowledge]

History is important as long as it is not ‘confining’ to today’s landscape. So is culture (for that matter); however, we all need to be cognizant that history continues to change, continues to be reinterpreted, and that culture/history is neither a good nor bad in and of itself. History and culture, while they can have many positive benefits, can also be constraining, as it often, subtlety, defines reality in ways that limit your ability to manipulate the world elements. Given the context of our history, it can have a negative impact in how we socially construct reality. More importantly, especially with black folk, someone that fails to act within that constricted norm, a norm created by people I might add, is often socially ostracized.

Black history, and its pedagogy, is no panacea for us. Often, because of the way it is taught, it can propagate negative images, stereotypes EVEN WHEN the teacher is well-intentioned. I don’t really know how to reconcile our troubled narrative and our even more troubled contemporary culture – if I did, I’d be rich; however, the notion that someone would want to balk at hearing our history is understandable. People can only take so much pain. Beyond that tipping point, people tend to tune out. It’s a survival mechanism.

There should be a way to teach our history as a pretext for liberation, but I just haven’t seen it. Furthermore, our current culture, in so many areas, is under such siege from the proliferation of negative pathologies (drug usage, STDs, the rise of gangs, the rampant approval of anti-intellectualism and so on) that it almost renders the notion of teaching history mute. Teaching history presupposes that you have a future. And frankly, in too many of our neighbors that future is dubious at best.

That’s just my $0.02.

Blueknowledge

[TheEpitome1920]

History is ALWAYS relevant. I guess I'm shocked to hear that students aren't learning about our history in classes but then again I refuse to allow someone else to be the sole educator of my child.

My mother is a professor so I was constantly surrounded by intellectuals and had access to books/videos/lectures on the subject. My greatest frustration is that we didn't learn about the life of our ancestors prior to their arrival on these shores in schoo. We learn about the English, Irish, Jews, etc and their conditions but rarely do we hear about life in West Africa, etc.

[TheEpitome1920]

Originally posted by Imperial1
I'm pretty much proficient when it comes to black history.

Imperial1

What makes one proficient in Black history?

[Imperial1]

Originally posted by TheEpitome1920
What makes one proficient in Black history?

When I say that, I mean that I know a lot of my black history. I've competed in black history competitions as well as already knowing a lot of what was being taught in my AA History class in college.

Imperial1

[abaici]

I believe that it's parents responsibility to be the torchbearer of our history.

However, I think that it's important that our students learn the history of our nation, and the cultures within it, in school. Black history is important. However, I think ALL history is important. One of the things I taught my students was the meaning of the Akan symbol the Sankofa. I'm not in favor of having a separated curriculum (I'm not saying that anyone said that we should). I believe that the contributions of African Americans (and Mexican, Asian, and Native Americans) should be incorporated into the American history curriculum. Frankly, the writers of history books are getting better. I taught out of a book entitled, Call to Freedom. One of the authors is a well known African-American scholar. The book is not perfect (uses the term Indian), but it's A WHOLE LOT BETTER than the book I used in 1993-1994.

But, it's not only the responsibility of parents and the writers of textbooks, it's also the responsibility of teachers to deliver the material. Use the textbooks and SUPPLEMENT! But, so many of my former colleagues teach history by only having the students read the book and answer questions at the end of the chapter

[StrangeFruit]

Abaici,

I agree with you that all history should be taught in school and through self-learning. Parents should ensure that their children know their history as well as the history of other cultures.

However I know that this isn't the case at least not among the people that I know that have kids. I will say that out of maybe 20 people that I know that have kids 2 teach their children (continuously) about their history. One male friend of mine has posters of various African & African-American historical figures in his room instead of disney characters, GI Joe. I'm not suggesting everyone do this mind you, but I thought it very interesting.

[abaici]

Dang, the baby can't have Spider-man on his wall??? LOL. But, that's fine (I wouldn't go that far, but it's fine). However, I think the best way to introduce children to their culture is through conversation, books, and trips. Take them to museums, exhibits, and special performances. Buy them age appropriate books and videos. TALK TO THEM. During that down town, just take the time to just talk to them about your childhood, their grandparents childhood. When you do that, you are making history come alive.

[Intense1920]

Growing up I didn't learn much of our history. Even during Black History Month is was like maybe a week devoted to MLK. Everything else I've learned came from my father who is very militant (LOL) and my own studying. Whenever I have children I will definetely be a major force in them learning about our past.

[reddawn18]

I agree with what everyone had said. Personally, I didn't know alot about our history until this year.

It was when I picked up a book about DST history that piqued my interest in our history. I spent a good two months learning where I come from and about our "hang ups" as a people and how it relates to me.

It was extremely enlightening and woke me up to this thing we called life. I am a tad younger than most of the posters on this board (HS graduate of 1995, College in 1999), but in high school and grade school we learned mostly about Martin Luther King. It felt like he was Black History. He was the most promident in my mind at this time.

But when I spent those two months reading, I learned my own significance in this world. It has helped me let go of my personal baggage and sh!t to become a more rounded person.

As for a separate curriculum, I am not in favor with that. I think it should be part of the overall curriculum so that we can learn the significance we play in the over all scheme of things. Is it the parents responsibility, in part. But if they are not taught it or want to learn it, how are the kids suppose to learn anything?