Pasadena Black History Month Magazine - February 2023 | Pages 15 & 16
POLITICAL GUMBO
MAKE SOME HISTORY BY LEARNING YOUR HISTORY
When Carter Woodson started Negro History Week in 1926, he felt at that time that Black people were not receiving the proper education about their own heritage.
Woodson hoped that eventually the educational drought would end and Negro History Week would no longer be needed.
See Woodon pushed schools to use Negro History Week to focus on what Black students were being taught year round.
"SADLY, NOT ONLY DOES THE DROUGHT CONTINUE, BUT NOW SOME STATES ARE PROHIBITING THE TEACHING OF BLACK HERITAGE.
He started a year-round Black studies program to reach adults throughout the year as he looked towards a time when weekly and monthly commemorations would no longer be needed, because the history was being taught year round.
Sadly, not only does the drought continue, but now some states are prohibiting the teaching of Black heritage.
All you have to do is look to headlines to find examples. Just this week, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis stood by the state's rejection of a proposed nationwide advanced African American studies course, saying it pushes a political agenda.
Get this, DeSantis claims his administration rejected the College Board's Advanced Placement African American Studies course because "we want education, not indoctrination."
It was revealed last week that the Florida Department of Education recently told the college board it would bar the course unless changes are made.
DeSantis frequently decries critical race theory, which is based on the premise that racism is embedded in American society, characterizing the theory as a vehicle for the indoctrination of students.