Black History Is American History and Should Be Celebrated All Year Long

Read the entire article by Simone Hardeman-Jones on Education Post.

As a Minnesotan, February is a signal that the warmth of spring is so close yet so far away (seriously, last Thursday the high was two degrees!). And as someone deeply committed to fighting for racial justice and equity, this month is a powerful opportunity to reflect on the disparities that exist in our public education system due to race, power, and privilege, and recommit ourselves to eliminating these inequities.

The evolution of Black History Month dates back nearly 100 years. In February of 1926, Carter G. Woodson, a Black public school teacher began “Negro History Week” when he realized that little to no Black history was being taught in schools. Mr. Woodson saw “Negro History Week” as a direct challenge to a power structure that made clear that Black history was unworthy of learning, and he wanted to facilitate a means through which teachers could illuminate the way racial power operated in America.

To read the complete article, visit Education Post.