Parents: We Have To Be Our K-5 Children’s First Black History Teacher So Here’s a Tipsheet To Help

White or Black, it’s up to all of us to teach history correctly

Photo: Willie B. Thomas/Getty Images

I’ve been an educator longer than I’ve been a parent and most of my friends are teachers or school administrators. In my many years teaching Pre-K to 12th grade, college age and adjudicated youth — Black History, the month or all year round has been on the back burner and isn’t a priority for most schools across America, and it’s under attack from conservative politicians and being challenged in states like Arkansas.

Legislators Propose Punishing Schools for Teaching Black History

Covid has revealed that our public school systems need clear, concise state-level guidelines and leadership with regard to equitable policies and implementation of programs. Letting each district and some individual schools have autonomy over complicated and controversial initiatives like online/hybrid learning or Black History hasn’t been easy on the educators or the parents and families.

I urge parents of all races and ethnic…