As February approached, many schools were preparing for Black History Month. That was not the case for a public charter school in North Ogden, Utah. Maria Montessori Academy gave parents the option to opt their children out of partaking in the Black History Month curriculum. This action was taken after parents voiced their opinions about making the curriculum optional.
In response to the backlash they received for this decision, the school issued a statement of regret and emphasized that Black History Month was no longer optional. The original letter sent out to parents before the retraction read that “families are allowed to exercise their civil rights to not participate in Black History Month at the school.”
The statement is a prime example of the ignorance toward race present in our society. People are unaware of the history of racism in America and its long-lasting effects. Erasing the past and refusing to honor the legacy of important Black historical figures does not qualify as exercising one’s civil rights. It is only possible for those with privilege. Black people do not have the choice to not participate in Black History Month because it is their lived reality. The issues discussed each February are what people of color must go through every day. They cannot erase their history if beliefs from over 200 years ago are still alive in present-day America.
America has tried to sweep its past under the rug too many times. The Black Lives Matter movement is a fitting example of this. Police brutality was and is accepted without consequence. Holidays that honor racist figures such as Columbus Day are still celebrated nationwide. Instances that indicate nationwide attitudes are endless.
Black History Month is a reflection of America’s past, present and future. Our nation was founded on systemic racism and white supremacy. Slavery is what built the nation, and it took years before change could occur. It took decades of struggle for slavery to be abolished and segregation to be declared unconstitutional. But the fight for equality is ongoing. These past changes does not mean America has ‘conquered’ or overcome racism.
America’s racist history needs to be discussed in schools. Many parents attempt to justify the erasure of this history by claiming they are uncomfortable talking about race with their children. Salt Lake City’s NAACP president, Jeanetta Williams, told KSL TV that if parents “want to opt-out, then perhaps the best thing they should do is home-school their children.” Expecting schools to ignore Black history is unacceptable.
It is wrong for parents to sugarcoat the centuries of ongoing racism in America. Knowing the history of Black culture is valuable, and parents put children at a disadvantage by not participating in Black History Month. A better education demands learning a multifaceted perspective of American history. Exposing children to America’s racist past at a young age helps children understand the complexity of racial injustice. It frames their understanding of racism and aids in the effort to practice anti-racism.
Educators must provide transparency about America’s history by including Black History Month in the permanent curriculum of their schools. To break this ongoing cycle of inequality, we must educate people about our past in order to see change in the future. In fact, America’s history of racism and inequality should be taught all year long. The standard curriculum would benefit from the raw reality of racism and slavery had long-lasting effects throughout history. Only having one month to talk about Black history is not enough when America’s history would not exist without Black folks.
Teachers should also take the time to discuss current events related to race. Talking about the Black Lives Matter movement and the killings of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor helps children understand the effects of present-day racism. These will all aid in illustrating how we do not live in a post-racial society.
Our youth will lead the way in the ongoing fight for racial justice. If it weren’t for Black History Month, younger generations would not know who Martin Luther King Jr., Malcolm X or Rosa Parks were.
It is highly concerning that this charter school felt comfortable enough giving parents the option to opt-out of Black History Month. This action makes one question whether or not our nation is actually making progress towards reckoning with its past. Black history is not a short chapter in America that people can throw away or ignore. It is a complex topic that is still relevant in our society and should be implemented in every school’s curriculum.
