"Centennial of Black History Month Brings Hope to a Nation Divided"
As the nation marks the 100th anniversary of National Black History Month, a year marked by controversy and pushback against the teaching of Black history in schools across America, there's renewed hope for a more inclusive and nuanced understanding of the country's complex past.
For many historians, activists, and academics, the current climate has sparked an unprecedented sense of urgency to share the stories and experiences of Black Americans. Despite President Trump's claim that some African American history lessons are meant to "indoctrinate people into hating the country," advocates say that education is key to building bridges between communities.
In response, over 150 teachers across the US have joined a campaign launched by Campaign Zero and Afro Charities to develop a Black History Month curriculum that prioritizes accuracy, context, and critical thinking. The initiative aims to expand access to educational materials and inspire young people to engage with history in a more intentional and thoughtful way.
One such project is "First Freedom: The Story of Opal Lee and Juneteenth," a graphic novel that tells the story of Opal Lee, a pioneering figure who helped federal recognition of Juneteenth. Author Angélique Roché hopes that the book will make its way into libraries and classrooms, inspiring young people to learn about lesser-known figures like William "Gooseneck Bill" McDonald, Texas' first Black millionaire.
Other notable releases include Jarvis Givens' new book, "I'll Make Me a World: The 100-Year Journey of Black History Month," which examines key themes in Black history and clarifies misconceptions around them. The book is part of a larger "living history campaign" aimed at teaching young students how to record and analyze history.
While some see the backlash against Black and African American studies as a familiar pattern, many believe that Woodson's legacy would not be surprised by today's pushback. According to Robert Trent Vinson, director of the Carter G. Woodson Institute at the University of Virginia, Woodson believed in the importance of creating an educational space outside formal university structures.
As Mckesson noted, "Resistance to teaching Black history is something that seems to occur every generation... We will go back to normalcy. But I think about the informal networks of Black people who have always resisted, and that's happening today."
In short, while challenges remain, there's renewed hope for a more inclusive and informed understanding of America's complex past. By engaging young people in meaningful conversations about history, we can build bridges between communities and forge a more just and equitable future for all.
As the nation marks the 100th anniversary of National Black History Month, a year marked by controversy and pushback against the teaching of Black history in schools across America, there's renewed hope for a more inclusive and nuanced understanding of the country's complex past.
For many historians, activists, and academics, the current climate has sparked an unprecedented sense of urgency to share the stories and experiences of Black Americans. Despite President Trump's claim that some African American history lessons are meant to "indoctrinate people into hating the country," advocates say that education is key to building bridges between communities.
In response, over 150 teachers across the US have joined a campaign launched by Campaign Zero and Afro Charities to develop a Black History Month curriculum that prioritizes accuracy, context, and critical thinking. The initiative aims to expand access to educational materials and inspire young people to engage with history in a more intentional and thoughtful way.
One such project is "First Freedom: The Story of Opal Lee and Juneteenth," a graphic novel that tells the story of Opal Lee, a pioneering figure who helped federal recognition of Juneteenth. Author Angélique Roché hopes that the book will make its way into libraries and classrooms, inspiring young people to learn about lesser-known figures like William "Gooseneck Bill" McDonald, Texas' first Black millionaire.
Other notable releases include Jarvis Givens' new book, "I'll Make Me a World: The 100-Year Journey of Black History Month," which examines key themes in Black history and clarifies misconceptions around them. The book is part of a larger "living history campaign" aimed at teaching young students how to record and analyze history.
While some see the backlash against Black and African American studies as a familiar pattern, many believe that Woodson's legacy would not be surprised by today's pushback. According to Robert Trent Vinson, director of the Carter G. Woodson Institute at the University of Virginia, Woodson believed in the importance of creating an educational space outside formal university structures.
As Mckesson noted, "Resistance to teaching Black history is something that seems to occur every generation... We will go back to normalcy. But I think about the informal networks of Black people who have always resisted, and that's happening today."
In short, while challenges remain, there's renewed hope for a more inclusive and informed understanding of America's complex past. By engaging young people in meaningful conversations about history, we can build bridges between communities and forge a more just and equitable future for all.
theres gotta be a better way to teach our kids about america's past than just the basics, you know? like opal lee and juneteenth are such important stories and i love that theres people working on projects like "first freedom" 
thats what were need more of - nuanced understanding and critical thinking 
and Jarvis Givens' book, "I'll Make Me a World" 
.
who believed in creating spaces for education and community engagement 
. The future belongs to our kids & its up 2 us 2 give them the tools 2 build a better world 
The whole thing feels like it's being done with good intentions, but let me ask this... isn't the whole point of promoting Black History Month supposed to be that everyone's equal in the eyes of the law and that education helps bridge gaps? If we're only teaching our kids about Opal Lee or William "Gooseneck Bill" McDonald, what about all the other important figures and events that shaped America? 
like, some people hate it and others love it but does that mean we can't agree on anything anymore? anyway, back to the topic, i think its really cool that they're trying to create a more inclusive curriculum for black history month. but have you ever noticed how every time there's a new trend or movement, there are always people saying "we've been here before" like it's some kind of conspiracy 
The fact that over 150 teachers are coming together to create a new Black History Month curriculum is a huge step in the right direction, especially with the pushback against it. It's about time we start giving our young people accurate and nuanced stories about their own history, rather than sugarcoating or omitting it altogether. The "First Freedom" graphic novel and other projects like it are just what we need to inspire a new generation of leaders who will help build bridges between communities.
Opal Lee's story is a great example of how one person can make a difference, and I love the idea of "First Freedom" being made into a graphic novel 
Maybe this is the push we need for our schools to incorporate more diverse perspectives in their curricula 
It's all about creating a more inclusive narrative that celebrates the complexities of American history 
! They're giving us stories we never knew about, like Opal Lee and William "Gooseneck Bill" McDonald. It's amazing how much history is being left out of our textbooks and classrooms, but this movement is making sure that doesn't happen anymore.
. It's giving me hope for a better future, where we can finally learn from each other and build bridges between communities. Bring on the learning, bring on the growth! 
is it fear of change or something else? anyway, its cool that teachers are taking matters into their own hands to develop curriculums that celebrate black excellence 
and critical thinking 
. I mean, come on, 100 years of complaining and still no progress? 
It's just a bunch of people pointing fingers and saying "you didn't do enough" instead of actually doing something to fix the problems 
.
. Where's the context? Where's the depth? 
. And if that means stirring up controversy and pushback, then so be it 
.
like wut kinda education u want 4 ur kids anyway? i think its dope dat teachers r gettin together 2 make a curriculum thats accurate & contextual tho 
I think this is all kinda proof that we're getting closer to a more inclusive and informed understanding of America's past. Fingers crossed! 
. It's crazy how much pushback there was even though it's been 100 years already! But you know what? I think it's awesome that people are finally waking up to the importance of sharing these stories and experiences with others. Like, if we don't learn from our past, how can we expect to move forward as a society?
. We need more of this kind of hope and collaboration