Well it’s here, the end of Black History Month. This is the time when teachers put away their MLK posters that have been up since January 16th. They remove the “Black History Month” display from the office, end the daily morning work focused on influential African Americans, and turn their attention away from Black History.
At the start of this month my coworker told me something interesting. She said that her father asked her why we have a black history month at all and “Isn’t THAT racist?” The sad thing is that this question isn’t even uncommon. There are many people who think that dedicating a month to black history is racist. Now, let’s save the discussion on what “racist” means for another time. For now, let’s focus on why we still need a Black History Month. The answer starts with my first statement. The fact that as soon as February is over, the focus on Black influence in our history is over too. THAT is why we still need this month.
While reviewing my curriculum, I found that much of African American history has been excluded. It is not taught throughout the units but rather saved only for the month of February. Students are taught briefly about slavery during the Revolutionary and Civil Wars but the rest of the African American experience is left mostly untouched. It’s like there’s a separation of African American History and American History when, in fact, they are one and the same. We can not truly understand American History without acknowledging and studying the influence of the African American impact. If we are going to exclude this from our curriculums, then Black History Month needs to continue.
While I am fighting for Black influence and black achievement to be taught year round in conjunction with American History, I understand that is not the case right now. That is why I celebrate Black History Month. That is why I highlight not only the freedom of enslaved Africans and the Civil Rights Movement, but also the small and large impacts made by many different Americans who happen to be African from the founding of our country to present time.
It is not unfair to dedicate a whole month to Black History. What is unfair is that February is the only time it is taught.
So let us use this month to teach what is untaught and give our students a full picture of American History.
Eriann Roberts
Eriann Roberts is a 4th Grade Gifted and Accelerated Teacher and Spirit Line Coach at Hartford Sylvia Encinas Elementary in the Chandler Unified School District. She has been teaching for 9 years and is currently working toward achieving her National Board Certification under Middle Childhood Generalist. She holds a Bachelor's degree in both General Elementary Education and Special Education from Northern Arizona University. Eriann is a member of the Arizona Teacher Solutions Team as well as the CUSD Equity Team.