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Kola
Moderator
Username: Kola
Post Number: 1777
Registered: 02-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, June 26, 2005 - 01:07 pm: | 
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June 25, 2005
Philadelphia Mandates Black History for Graduation
By MICHAEL JANOFSKY
PHILADELPHIA, June 22 - Angry that public schools here have always taught American history through a Eurocentric prism, parents of black children began pleading with local school officials to offer a course in African-American history.
That was nearly 40 years ago.
This year, their pleas were finally - and emphatically - answered. Starting in September, students entering city high schools as ninth graders will be required to take a course in African-American history, making Philadelphia the first major city to require such a course for high school graduation.
School officials here say the course carries huge benefits for all students and offers a perspective on American history that has been largely absent from most contemporary teaching guides.
"You cannot understand American history without understanding the African-American experience; I don't care what anybody says," said Paul G. Vallas, the school system's chief executive, who is white. "It benefits African-American children who need a more comprehensive understanding of their own culture, and it also benefits non-African-Americans to understand the full totality of the American experience."
Critics of the policy shift say it will further polarize the city by focusing attention on just one race and not dealing with other racial and ethnic groups like Mexicans, Chinese or Poles.
According to a course outline developed by district officials, the course will focus on how Africans became Americans through the colonial period, efforts of slaves to achieve freedom, the Civil War and its aftermath, economic development for blacks through the last century, the civil rights movement and the growth of modern black nationalist movements in the United States and Africa.
Supporters say the course will place a new emphasis on historical African-American figures like Frederick Douglass, Ida B. Wells and Dr. Charles Drew, whose contributions to American life and culture seldom get more than a brief mention, if that, in the current textbooks that many schools use.
The Philadelphia School District includes 185,000 students, two-thirds of whom are African-American, and only two in seven are white or Hispanic. The School Reform Commission, a panel that sets policy and is now composed of three whites and two blacks, voted 5 to 0 in February to make the course mandatory in all 53 high schools after some in recent years had offered African-American history as an elective.
The vote garnered little notice at the time, but in recent weeks as the school board began mailing out letters to parents informing them of next year's curriculum, pockets of local resistance began emerging.
The speaker of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, John M. Perzel, an otherwise strong supporter of the city's schools for recent improvements in test scores, asked the commission to reconsider making the course mandatory.
Mr. Perzel, a Republican who represents a district in northeast Philadelphia that is largely white, said in a letter to the commission chairman, James E. Nevels, that he was concerned that the mandate "will divide, rather than unite" the city "and thereby erode the positive learning environment."
Mr. Nevels, calling himself "respectful of the points" Mr. Perzel raised, said he was certain that district officials would not reverse their decision. "There's no question about the commitment to African-American history by the Philadelphia School District," he said.
An aide to Mr. Perzel said the letter was prompted, in part, by complaints from constituents. Mr. Perzel declined a request for an interview, but his sentiments appear to reflect discomfort among some whites elsewhere in the city.
Standing outside a recreation center in Fishtown, a largely white working-class neighborhood, Mike Budnick, 16, called the requirement "a bad idea" and said he was not especially interested in learning about black culture or heritage.
"I'm more interested in our history," he said.
A friend of Mr. Budnick, Arbi Ferko, also 16, said, "It's not our history to learn," and pointed out, as other critics have, that the school had not sought to create courses on the history of other groups.
Supporters of the course are dismayed by such views, insisting that in large measure, African-Americans, like no other ethnic group, have been cheated by contemporary textbooks and social studies curriculums that introduce students to blacks in this country as slaves from Africa with no prior language, culture or heritage.
"Too often, African-Americans are marginalized in American society," said Sandra Dungee Glenn, a commission member who was the driving force behind making the course mandatory. "People's views and understanding of who we are focus on us as descendents of slaves. It begins and ends there, giving us inferior status."
The course is designed to alter those perceptions by reviewing the origins of civilization in Africa and early developments in African history before tracking the movement of Africans to North America as slaves.
From that point, the course follows the progress and travails of blacks throughout American history with a special emphasis on their contributions.
As a pilot program, African history was offered in the spring semester this year in four high schools.
Patricia Thomas Whyatt taught the course at Strawberry Mansion, a nearly all-black school of 900 students, and found that even her own students had misconceptions of their race.
"The first day I asked students to make a list of everything they knew about Africa, then we went through each item," Ms. Whyatt said. "They thought Africa was all jungle, that people ran around with spears and lived in huts. A lot of crazy things like that."
By the end of school this month, she said, not only had perceptions changed but self-esteem had improved as well.
One of her students, Christopher Davis, 18, said: "In American society, we're known as gangsters, drug dealers and killers. People don't know all about our heritage, what we stood for, our accomplishments as a culture. I feel better now because I know a little bit more about how we lived before we got here."
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Kola
Moderator
Username: Kola
Post Number: 1778
Registered: 02-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, June 26, 2005 - 01:13 pm: |
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I think that's really great.
The funny thing is that by the time it catches on nationwide (200 years?)---their may not be anymore black Americans, not real ones in significant numbers anyway. Sort of like how we read about these mysterious "Red" Indian people that once existed.
You worship people once they're dead, though.
NOTE:
A "real" black American is someone like Maya Angelou, Denzel Washington, Brandy.
People like The Rock, Nicole Ritchie and Diana Ross's kids are like "Psuedo Black Americans" to me.
They just don't remind me of Pearl Bailey and Redd Foxx.
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roXie
Unregistered guest
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, June 27, 2005 - 10:24 am: |
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The rock is mostly samoan, and even though she was adopted by black people I don't think Nicole ritchie's black.
anyway, i hope this time they avoid the "they were victimized during slavery/they succeded depite jim crow" formula i had in school and add information of figures in the diasporan or global paradgim in their curriculum. Including:
*black members of nonafrican royal families
* black leaders of nonblack nations
* black civilizations outside africa before european exploration.
* black communities that DIDN'T migrate via slavery (like the habishis and siddis)
...and with this in their currriculum (and black teachers teaching) maybe people won't assume you celebrate kwanzaa! (sorry, just venting ^_^')
It's clear that many black americans( and other blacks in other nations) have litte to no knowledge about their people(I think i made this point to Abm in another post),and the way our image is worsening now that the corporations and spoiled suburban kids' hold on hip-hop are not helping the situation. Alot of black people are WAY behind in knowledge and we have some serious educating to do with these kids(and adults)about the basics on Africa and themselves such as Vivien Thomas (who REALLY accomplished the first open heart surgery & w/o college edu.) or Queen Nzinga. However as I mentioned the education has to be the right education and not the self-esteem booosting propaganda or careless formulaic pattern I and many kids before me learned about in school by both black and white teachers.
and BTW, there are still "red"(burgundy-hued) indians, they live in the plains, southwest,the Andes and the Amazon. Like Africans, indians varied in color and facial features prior to european presence. But what better people are there to unite with than N.americans? ;-) We just gotta get rid of that western brainwashing.
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Kola
Moderator
Username: Kola
Post Number: 1795
Registered: 02-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, June 27, 2005 - 12:00 pm: |
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My point is that there isn't a significant amount of INDIANS left in the U.S.
The few alive are married to Non-Indians, the children call themselves "Indian", but they look like Tango Riff Raff from Belgian Square.
Nicole Richie's biological father was "part" black and she sometimes claims that she is.
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Abm
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Abm
Post Number: 3698
Registered: 04-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, June 27, 2005 - 12:16 pm: |
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I'm not sure of the specifics of what's being proposed here. But I'd rather they teach about Black contributions within the contexts of the primary subject matter (e.g., reading, writing, math, sciences, etc.) rather than as some separate, stand alone course(s).
@ Include discussions about Mae Jamison within your lectures of space, geometry, etc.
@ Include Charles Drew within teachings about biology.
@ Reference Toni Morrison within your reading/writing homework.
THAT, to me, is the most effect/enduring way of breeding appreciation about the contributions of African American within our young. And doing THAT would more likely garner utility/acceptance OUTSIDE the Black communities as well. |
Kola
Moderator
Username: Kola
Post Number: 1796
Registered: 02-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, June 27, 2005 - 12:29 pm: |
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ABM, you make excellent points and perfect sense---which is why they won't be doing it that way, watch.
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Abm
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Abm
Post Number: 3700
Registered: 04-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, June 27, 2005 - 12:58 pm: |
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Kola,
Your cynicism is probably warranted. And that's too bad.
Because not only would this help the kids, I might also open up some great opportunities for good Black textbooks authors/illustrators and educational A/V artists. |
Kola
Moderator
Username: Kola
Post Number: 1797
Registered: 02-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, June 27, 2005 - 01:03 pm: |
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Well, ABM, you know that if I had anything to do with it---it would be done that way.
The problem is that people like me are attacked and pariah-ized on all sides, even by the black people in power, so we end up never doing things the way they should be. Hence our predicament globally.
As I've fought with Cynique about your endlessly great opinions and ideas---notice that none of the black men in power seem to think ANYTHING like you....but more like Cynique and Slow Poke.
So, it's true what you were telling us, ABM, about the mothers. We need a new kind of black mother--and it aint Moonsigns.
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Abm
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Abm
Post Number: 3702
Registered: 04-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, June 27, 2005 - 01:11 pm: |
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Kola,
Don't mind the naysayers. Just keep on doing your thing, Baby. The truth prevails. |
Chrishayden
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Chrishayden
Post Number: 1252
Registered: 03-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, June 27, 2005 - 01:12 pm: |
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If I was a white Philadelphia parent I'd get me one of them Federalist Society lawyers and sue and wait for the money to roll in. |
Kola
Moderator
Username: Kola
Post Number: 1800
Registered: 02-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, June 27, 2005 - 01:14 pm: |
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LMAO at Chris!!!
LOL
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Abm
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Abm
Post Number: 3705
Registered: 04-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, June 27, 2005 - 01:25 pm: |
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Chris,
HAHA!! Interesting point. All the more reason why I think this should be done more subtly than what seems is being proposed. |
Chrishayden
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Chrishayden
Post Number: 1254
Registered: 03-2004
Rating: 
Votes: 1 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, June 27, 2005 - 03:09 pm: |
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For myself I have long advocated that Black History be taught by our own Black institutions--churches, social clubs, societies, fraternities and sororities, and that type. Jews do not allow anyone else to teach their history--they do it.
If you allow someone else to teach your history, prepare to be dissed and outraged and insulted. So much energy will go toward fighting with people to see they do it right that could be dedicated to just spreading it.
I will not hold my breath waiting for them to do it. |
Kola
Moderator
Username: Kola
Post Number: 1808
Registered: 02-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, June 27, 2005 - 03:43 pm: |
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Wow Chris!!!
Spoken like a true African. I swear.
You're so right.
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Abm
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Abm
Post Number: 3713
Registered: 04-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, June 27, 2005 - 04:36 pm: |
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Chris,
I agree with you in principle.
Because here's the thing: Our kids are also learning White and Jewish history within ALL the subject matter of virtually EVERYTHING they already study.
So even though they learn AA history at home, they're STILL learning at school that Thomas Edison invented the light bulb WITHOUT the explicit acknowledgment that a Black Man, LOUIS LATIMER, invented the process of manufacturing filament in the bulb.
And yes. Jewish kids learn their culture at home. But they ALSO learn it via every reference to Moses, Einstein, Kissinger, Noam Chomsky, Ed Koch and the myriad other Jews one will likely encounter via standard academic preparation.
So I think we should attempt to do BOTH. |
Moonsigns
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Moonsigns
Post Number: 567
Registered: 07-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, June 28, 2005 - 03:24 pm: |
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Chris,
You make such a valid point! |
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