EDUCATION

Why Did an All-White School Board Ban Black History Classes in Missouri?

They had the motive, the means, and the opportunity

AI-generated photo of a student sitting in a library near the window | photo created by author using CANVA

Whether black history is incorporated into the class curriculum or swept under a rug depends on who calls the shots in any given city, state, country, or parish. For instance, in Missouri, the Francis Howell School Board, an all-white group, voted on Thursday in a 5–2 decision to stop offering black history and literature elective courses. And just like that, they cut off students' access to a topic they found interesting. Lauren Chance, a senior in the district, expressed her disappointment, saying, "Black history is American history," that "it's important that it's taught at our schools." Harry Harris, a parent, noted that "our students really wanted these electives. Our families really wanted them, and our teachers really wanted them." This decision came from the same school board that voted along the same lines to "rescind the district's Anti-Racism Resolution adopted in 2020." So, why did this all-white school board decide to grab the broom? Let's unpack this.

Those attempting to remove black history from classrooms around the country couldn't accomplish their objective without the means, motive, and opportunity. In this case, an all-white school board in Missouri…