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EDUCATION
Why Battle Against Black History is Taking Strange New Turn
What once was a problem of scarcity is now a one of censorship
Resistance to black history in the classroom is nothing new. This is, in part, due to the prevalence of racist attitudes. Those accustomed to taking center stage often refuse to share the limelight. And yet, there are other factors to consider. Such as the shallow introduction many receive to black historical narratives. In public schools, the topic is not included as a required course. Instead, it is offered as an elective. As a result, some leave school well-versed in black history. Others leave without much knowledge of the topic at all. Treating the topic as non-essential is a problem. But there are now bigger fish to fry. Because what was once a problem of scarcity is now a problem of censorship.
For instance, presidential candidate Donald Trump made an alarming statement last fall. On Fox News, he announced a plan to withhold funding for public schools that teach black history. Mainly that “America [was] built off the backs of slaves on stolen land.” School districts may feel inclined to bend to power. After all, many depend upon supplemental federal funding. To add salt to the wound, Black students are more likely to attend underfunded schools. To rely upon the funds Trump has threatened to withhold. As a result, they face an unfair burden in this battle. Yet, caving into pressure overlooks the nation’s legacy of racism. Far too often, access to historical knowledge is filtered through white comfort.
Here are the facts. Enslaved people built national monuments, such as the White House and the U.S. Capital building. But, they were more than a source of exploited labor — their bodies became commodities. And the nation profited from the franchise. “Slavery property of the South was three times all the railroads and factories of the North” combined by 1860. Black people were often used as collateral for land and business loans. J.P. Morgan found that two of its predecessor banks had adopted this practice. “Approximately 13,000 individuals” were treated “as collateral.” And they came to own “approximately 1,250 enslaved individuals” because of defaults. On the second point, he was also off base. White Americans indeed stole…
