An Incomplete, Dishonest, and Racist American History.

 
IN THE ACADEMIC ARENA there is a saying, “If it is not written down, it did not happen.”
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Real truthful Black history is seldom "written down" on the pages of racist White American history by racist White historians, and racist White textbook authors.

Racism is also subject matter which does not make its way onto the pages of racist American history and is often treated as a taboo subject or a four-letter word. We can see this "phenomenon" with racist White elected officials misrepresenting the truth about their racism, and cowardly hiding behind their convenient and current bogeyman, Critical Race Theory, which many racists cannot define.

Author and Atlantic columnist Ta-Nehisi Coates said that, for Black people in America, "Racism is a physical experience of fear and violence."

Note to American history teachers, White and Black: Do not expect your Black students to absorb your history class if you do not incorporate Black history. If I sit in a classroom and only read about the contributions made by White Americans and White Europeans, then the “learning field” is never level. It is downright dishonest that American history as portrayed in history textbooks essentially makes the statement that Blacks made no salient contributions to this country. There is a reason WHY Dr. Carter G. Woodson felt the need to establish Negro History Week in 1926.

Understand this, American History as taught in middle school, high school, and colleges and universities, is Incomplete, Dishonest, and Racist.

My Black ancestors helped to develop this country before, during, and after slavery. And of course, MY HISTORY, THE HISTORY OF MY AFRICAN ANCESTORS Did Not begin with slavery in this country.

You must teach the truth without regard to what the textbooks proclaim. You are not teaching if you do otherwise.

We simply cannot afford to ignore stories about the legacy of Black history, and the legacy of the Civil Rights Movement anymore. Those who tire of hearing about Racism should ask yourselves, what if you had to live through the daily vulgarity, evil, and the pathology of White American Racism, and the Dishonesty of American History?

IF YOU ARE INTIMIDATED WITH TELLING THE TRUTH, then get out of the classroom, and get out of public education administration.

Mr. Rutledge Pearson, my American History teacher, the adviser to the Jacksonville Youth Council NAACP, and my mentor, armed us with the truth, irrespective of what was “written down.” Black History is who WE are. Racism is why WE fight . . . and the Struggle, is what WE must continue. DOING NOTHING is not an option.

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