Black History Month. Does your child's school do anything if there's not a large AA population?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My 7th grade DD goes to a private school where the AA population is very small. They don't do anything for Black History Month. The librarian (who is AA) often puts up a display of books written by AA but that's all the school really does. For the last 3-4 years, I've pushed my daughter to do a small presentation for her class (about 5 minutes long) for which teacher usually gives her extra credit, but she's a straight A student so that's no big deal.

This year I was thinking to just let it go. It bothers me that the school doesn't do anything, but I know that's really my fault for me choosing to send her there knowing this could be an issue. I guess I just assumed most schools did something regardless of the school population. I went to a private school as well (not in this area) that was primarily, AA so we celebrated black history all year but had special programs, plays, speakers during the month of February.


So I was just WONDERING what other schools (public or private) do during the month that don't have a large AA population? Again, I'm just asking.

At our school - I am not sure they do anything specific for BHM. However, they did do some history around MLK day. Our school is very diverse - we have an "international night" in the fall when all the different cultures can participate.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

At our school - I am not sure they do anything specific for BHM. However, they did do some history around MLK day. Our school is very diverse - we have an "international night" in the fall when all the different cultures can participate.

PP, at least at my school, International Night is when first-generation and second-generation immigrants to the US present their cultures. It's a bit problematic to suggest this in the context of African-Americans whose ancestors were forcibly brought to the US 200+ years ago, I think. But maybe I'm misunderstanding you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

At our school - I am not sure they do anything specific for BHM. However, they did do some history around MLK day. Our school is very diverse - we have an "international night" in the fall when all the different cultures can participate.

PP, at least at my school, International Night is when first-generation and second-generation immigrants to the US present their cultures. It's a bit problematic to suggest this in the context of African-Americans whose ancestors were forcibly brought to the US 200+ years ago, I think. But maybe I'm misunderstanding you.

At our school it isn't limited to recent immigrants. Perhaps it wouldn't be appropriate for OP - but I was trying to indicate that our school doesn't really push the different months (BHM in Feb, Asian American History Month in May, National Hispanic Heritage Month during the period from September 15 to October 15.)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's weird that you make your daughter present something on black history when it's not needed. So she just walks around asking teachers if she can present to get extra credit? Anyways, my child goes to a pgcps. They go all out for black history and it's annoying as fuck.

OP Here,

I'm not sure why you think it's not needed. I didn't say anything in my original post to indicate that. And no she doesn't "just walks around asking teachers if she can present to get extra credit? " The first year she attended the school (2nd grade), I happened to ask her towards the end of February "Larla, is your class doing anything for BHM?" she said no. After the end of the month, I asked if they ever did anything and she said no. The second year (3rd grade), I asked in the beginning of the month if her class was doing anything, she said no. I then told her to ask her teacher if they were doing anything. She did and teacher said no. I told her, if she wanted to, this would be a great opportunity for her to be a leader and ask her teacher is she could do something for the class. She did not ask for extra credit because she doesn't need it, as I said earlier, she is already a straight A student. She thought about it and decided that she would like to do something. So during social studies class did a presentation on African American scientists. Teacher was impressed so was principal. She was then asked to make the presentation again for the entire 1st, 2nd, 3rd grade classes, the principal and resource staff. In the fourth grade, same scenario--teacher/class not doing anything. I told her again to volunteer to present something. She did a presentation on Black Americans physicians doing great things (even included something on Ben Carson). In 2014, again same scenario. My DD is a huge fan of Nelson Mandela. Because he died the previous year, she asked to do a presentation on his life. She said most of the kids in the class did not even know who he was, let alone that he died.

Last year her 6th grade teacher, just asked my DD flat out if she wanted to present something in January. DD didn't want to, but felt a little pressed. So she did something on The Harlem Renaissance. Later she said she was starting to feel like the spokesperson for all things black at her school. Hell, a couple of teachers asked her alone what "Hot Line Bling" was? and if she knew how to do "The Quan"?

Anyway, it is obvious to me that my DD doesn't want to be considered the all knowing black kid, so she already to me that she didn't want to present anything this year. I think she would love it if the other kids would actually be interested themselves and inquire as to why the classes aren't doing anything. I think that's what bothers her the most. That the other kids don't even seem to know that BHM even exists. Maybe the both of us are expecting to much from our community.

Is she the only black student in the school?

No she is not. Without giving to much away --there are about 10 African students that clearly identify as African, about 10 African-American and maybe 25 that identify as bi-racial (black/white). The school does have about fifty Hispanic/Latino children (I could be wrong about this) and maybe 25 Asian students who mostly have white parents.

I'm not expecting the school to put on a stage play of Raisin in Sun or make the students recite poems from Langston Hughes as I did when I was in school. But I am surprised that there seems to be no recognition at all. That's why I wanted to know what what other schools did that were not primarily AA.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's weird that you make your daughter present something on black history when it's not needed. So she just walks around asking teachers if she can present to get extra credit? Anyways, my child goes to a pgcps. They go all out for black history and it's annoying as fuck.

OP Here,

I'm not sure why you think it's not needed. I didn't say anything in my original post to indicate that. And no she doesn't "just walks around asking teachers if she can present to get extra credit? " The first year she attended the school (2nd grade), I happened to ask her towards the end of February "Larla, is your class doing anything for BHM?" she said no. After the end of the month, I asked if they ever did anything and she said no. The second year (3rd grade), I asked in the beginning of the month if her class was doing anything, she said no. I then told her to ask her teacher if they were doing anything. She did and teacher said no. I told her, if she wanted to, this would be a great opportunity for her to be a leader and ask her teacher is she could do something for the class. She did not ask for extra credit because she doesn't need it, as I said earlier, she is already a straight A student. She thought about it and decided that she would like to do something. So during social studies class did a presentation on African American scientists. Teacher was impressed so was principal. She was then asked to make the presentation again for the entire 1st, 2nd, 3rd grade classes, the principal and resource staff. In the fourth grade, same scenario--teacher/class not doing anything. I told her again to volunteer to present something. She did a presentation on Black Americans physicians doing great things (even included something on Ben Carson). In 2014, again same scenario. My DD is a huge fan of Nelson Mandela. Because he died the previous year, she asked to do a presentation on his life. She said most of the kids in the class did not even know who he was, let alone that he died.

Last year her 6th grade teacher, just asked my DD flat out if she wanted to present something in January. DD didn't want to, but felt a little pressed. So she did something on The Harlem Renaissance. Later she said she was starting to feel like the spokesperson for all things black at her school. Hell, a couple of teachers asked her alone what "Hot Line Bling" was? and if she knew how to do "The Quan"?

Anyway, it is obvious to me that my DD doesn't want to be considered the all knowing black kid, so she already to me that she didn't want to present anything this year. I think she would love it if the other kids would actually be interested themselves and inquire as to why the classes aren't doing anything. I think that's what bothers her the most. That the other kids don't even seem to know that BHM even exists. Maybe the both of us are expecting to much from our community.

Is she the only black student in the school?

No she is not. Without giving to much away --there are about 10 African students that clearly identify as African, about 10 African-American and maybe 25 that identify as bi-racial (black/white). The school does have about fifty Hispanic/Latino children (I could be wrong about this) and maybe 25 Asian students who mostly have white parents.

I'm not expecting the school to put on a stage play of Raisin in Sun or make the students recite poems from Langston Hughes as I did when I was in school. But I am surprised that there seems to be no recognition at all. That's why I wanted to know what what other schools did that were not primarily AA.

That does seem odd. Wouldn't they want ALL their students to have an appreciation of diversity and history?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

At our school - I am not sure they do anything specific for BHM. However, they did do some history around MLK day. Our school is very diverse - we have an "international night" in the fall when all the different cultures can participate.

PP, at least at my school, International Night is when first-generation and second-generation immigrants to the US present their cultures. It's a bit problematic to suggest this in the context of African-Americans whose ancestors were forcibly brought to the US 200+ years ago, I think. But maybe I'm misunderstanding you.

At our school it isn't limited to recent immigrants. Perhaps it wouldn't be appropriate for OP - but I was trying to indicate that our school doesn't really push the different months (BHM in Feb, Asian American History Month in May, National Hispanic Heritage Month during the period from September 15 to October 15.)

People whose ancestors immigrated to the US in 1720 or 1850 or 1910 also participate in your school's international night and present their cultures? Which cultures do they present?

[Anonymous]

I'm confused. What problem is OP trying to solve? I thought it was Spreading positive information about AA place in U.S./world history without forcing her child to be the sole propagator of information at her school, if not other schools. If that's the case, then op needs to help organize something at school during black history month and making it AWESOME, so people want to participate. A smaller step in the right direction is something during heritage month in the fall. Is AA history unique from others? Damn straight it is, but you don't attract positive attention to your subject by dismissing the contributions of other groups.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

At our school - I am not sure they do anything specific for BHM. However, they did do some history around MLK day. Our school is very diverse - we have an "international night" in the fall when all the different cultures can participate.

PP, at least at my school, International Night is when first-generation and second-generation immigrants to the US present their cultures. It's a bit problematic to suggest this in the context of African-Americans whose ancestors were forcibly brought to the US 200+ years ago, I think. But maybe I'm misunderstanding you.

At our school it isn't limited to recent immigrants. Perhaps it wouldn't be appropriate for OP - but I was trying to indicate that our school doesn't really push the different months (BHM in Feb, Asian American History Month in May, National Hispanic Heritage Month during the period from September 15 to October 15.)

People whose ancestors immigrated to the US in 1720 or 1850 or 1910 also participate in your school's international night and present their cultures? Which cultures do they present?

Wow you are hung up on this. We have had people present Germany and Ireland. They clearly were not recent immigrants. We had people who were clearly not Japanese present Japan. And my adopted daughter participated in her birth country's table. There aren't firm rules thankfully - because the point is for everyone to participate.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm confused. What problem is OP trying to solve? I thought it was Spreading positive information about AA place in U.S./world history without forcing her child to be the sole propagator of information at her school, if not other schools. If that's the case, then op needs to help organize something at school during black history month and making it AWESOME, so people want to participate. A smaller step in the right direction is something during heritage month in the fall. Is AA history unique from others? Damn straight it is, but you don't attract positive attention to your subject by dismissing the contributions of other groups.[/quote]

when did OP dismiss the contributions of other groups?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You can't have American history without American Indians. You can't have American history without African-Americans.

Sure you can. And then it would even be interesting!

My kid wasn't even in kindergarten before he knew that "African-American History" meant boring, preachy crap.

Wow. Your kid's school must really suck. What is so boring about AA history? Boring?

ALL OF IT.

I just don't give a shit.

Doesn't speak to me, isn't relevant to my life.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You can't have American history without American Indians. You can't have American history without African-Americans.

Sure you can. And then it would even be interesting!

My kid wasn't even in kindergarten before he knew that "African-American History" meant boring, preachy crap.

Wow. Your kid's school must really suck. What is so boring about AA history? Boring?

ALL OF IT.

I just don't give a shit.

Doesn't speak to me, isn't relevant to my life.

wow so anything that isn't relevant to your life you just don't give a shit about. what a way to live.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You can't have American history without American Indians. You can't have American history without African-Americans.

Sure you can. And then it would even be interesting!

My kid wasn't even in kindergarten before he knew that "African-American History" meant boring, preachy crap.

Wow. Your kid's school must really suck. What is so boring about AA history? Boring?

ALL OF IT.

I just don't give a shit.

Doesn't speak to me, isn't relevant to my life.

wow so anything that isn't relevant to your life you just don't give a shit about. what a way to live.

not to mention - how is your post helpful to OP? if you don't give a shit - then don't respond.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
To be quite clear: You are saying that American Indians and African-Americans are not an integral part of American history. That American Indians and African-Americans are extraneous to American history. That American history does not have to include American Indians or African-Americans.l

I wonder what your definitions of "American" and "history" are.

History does not have to include everything about everybody.

The "wars and presidents" approach works fine for me. I'll skip the annoying hate-whitey stuff, thanks.

[Anonymous]

Our school no longer has a Black History Month. First, they mainstreamed black history into the curriculum when Obama was elected president. Also, they felt that a month was too much on one group, lest other ethnic and racial groups want the same time to present their stories. This change has worked out well

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm confused. What problem is OP trying to solve? I thought it was Spreading positive information about AA place in U.S./world history without forcing her child to be the sole propagator of information at her school, if not other schools. If that's the case, then op needs to help organize something at school during black history month and making it AWESOME, so people want to participate. A smaller step in the right direction is something during heritage month in the fall. Is AA history unique from others? Damn straight it is, but you don't attract positive attention to your subject by dismissing the contributions of other groups.[/quote]

when did OP dismiss the contributions of other groups?

It may not have been OP, but the person who dismissed the idea of sharing AA history with "recent immigrants." To me it is about making inroads where none may exist. The ideal may be having a big class unit in February, but if not why not start with something iN The fall?