Black History Month. Does your child's school do anything if there's not a large AA population?
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Anonymous
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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. |
Anonymous
| That would bother me too, OP, and I'm white. African-American history is an integral and important part of American history; every American needs to learn it, including people who are not African-American. |
Anonymous
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Does the school celebrate women history month or American Indian history month or is it just not celebrating black history month?
I wouldn't be upset if they don't celebrate any other races/months, but would be if they just chose not to celebrate black history month. |
Anonymous
I don't know if they celebrate women's history month. They actually do celebrate American Indian history month in November in conjunction with Columbus day. Listen I get where you are going with this comment, but I think my question is still valid. African Americans in general are vilified on the news, in the media, in the political system, court system and such on a daily basis. My DD says all friends seem to be surprised to some extent at the information she provides when she does presentations during Black History month. All they seem to know about AA is MLK, Rosa Parks, and maybe some of the black players on the Redskins/Wizards teams. American Indians, women, Jewish-Americans, Asian American and Latinos are not portrayed the same way AA are(or at least not in the same way). I would hope that non-AA parents would want to their children to know that AA are smart, can invent things, and have been an integral part of building this country that has nothing to do with slavery, MLK, or playing in the NBA. My daughter says that most of friends and their parents appear to afraid of black people in general. So again, I'm just asking about BLACK HISTORY MONTH. If others are concerned about "women history month or American Indian history month" they can ask the question as well. |
Anonymous
| My daughter's school does have a big AA population, and does celebrate Black History Month. In talking to friends, it seems like even schools in predominately white areas at least do something. I would talk to the librarian, tell her you wish the school would do more for BHM, and ask if there is anything you can do support her/if there's anyone on the administration she thinks would be open to the idea. You could also start talking other parents and see if you can find any allies. |
Anonymous
Women are half of the human beings in the world. You can't have American history without American Indians. You can't have American history without African-Americans. Why would you not be upset? |
Anonymous
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. |
Anonymous
| My 5th grader is one of 2 AA kids in her class. Last year there was no recognition, but they don't do any of the month theme so I felt odd to complain. They use a fairly inclusive history book at least. |
Anonymous
wow that must be coming from you. because that was not my kid's interpretation |
Anonymous
| I'd be more concerned about an inclusive curriculum in general as opposed to the "Flavor of the Month" approach. That's what I'd be focused on working toward. |
Anonymous
Wow. Your kid's school must really suck. What is so boring about AA history? Boring? |
Anonymous
This is what you call "adding cream to coffee." What's black and designed to wake you up is transformed into a milky drink for sleep. (I'm paraphrasing Malcolm X there.) Diluting OP's question about Black History Month with a pile on of other holidays is simply a way of making it less-important or significant. No thanks! Kudos on you and DD for making an effort. I've been glancing at the NYTimes online and they seem to have some nice timelines and photos for BHM. This may be a useful resource for DD if she chooses to do something again this year. |
Anonymous
| 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. |
Anonymous
why isn't it needed? that's your opinion. Yes PG is a majority black county - what did you expect? They would ignore it? |
Anonymous
I'm going to requote what you're quoting here:
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. |