February is Black History Month, but let’s be real, Black History is American History.
And plenty of American History has been made in the last several years. The death of George Floyd is American History, and racism played a big part in that chapter. The pandemic that has killed 900,000 Americans is history in the making.
Generation after generation will read and learn from our successes and failures dealing with race-based issues: human and civil rights, public health, economic inequalities, and other American challenges.
Wouldn’t it be great to ban racism in America instead of blackballing books about racism in many school systems today?
Racism in America is not imaginary; it’s not a Star Trek, out-of-this-world experience. Racism in America is real, and it hurts everyone it touches. Ask Asian-Americans, Native Americans, African Americans, and other disparaged groups.
Books about racism are being barred not only in some classrooms in different states but also in various libraries. My not mentioning other controversial censored writings doesn’t mean they are less critical. But limiting public access to historical and personal stories about slavery and black Americans’ struggles for freedom and human rights is un-American.
What happened to freedom of speech and information?
How will America deal with racial problems? I know some deny that any racial problems exist. The first rule for better race relations recognizes that there is a problem.
Yes, Virginia, Shaquita, there is a race problem in America.
Some say reading and learning about the history of racism in America make white students and parents uncomfortable. So, ban the books and put on a happy face. Feel better now? But racism has neither left the room, building, home, community, city, state, nor America.
Who says studying greed, hate, and racial tragedies has to be comfortable? What about the American Civil War between northern and southern brothers? Learning about the hatred and killing of so many grand and great-grand relatives is bound to be uncomfortable to many.
I guess there are some who feel uncomfortable reading about the Holocaust. Books about the Holocaust and the killing of millions of Jews are also on the woodpile in some states.
But what about those who experienced racism? We have a story to tell. To improve race relations, others must read, listen, and learn from the past—not to do worse but better.
The American Library Association (ALA) said, “Books unite us. They reach across boundaries and build connections between readers. Censorship, on the other hand, divides us and creates barriers.”
According to the ALA and its Office for Intellectual Freedom, parents initiated 50 % of the challenges against books about racism, LGBTQ, and other controversial social issues. In 2020, 273 books received a censorship recommendation.
Barring books about racism will not stamp out racism. It will not help race relations.
American History is the study of human affairs in America.
Black History is the study of black Americans.
African-American History is the study of African Americans.
History made by Americans who are descendants from Barbados, Haiti, Africa, or other countries is American History.
Learning about the struggles of blacks, Jews, and other groups in America shouldn’t be censored in any American classroom.
Let’s not handicap our children in their quest to make a more perfect union and a better world.
Stay safe.