by Anna Suranyi

Created on: August 10, 2008

First and foremost, all history should be shared and taught. When American history is taught in schools, it is incomplete without African-American history. They are intertwined and inseparable, although many try to do so, to the detriment of their students. Sadly, there are those who sift through and share a history that fits their personal beliefs and biases. We can only learn from the past if history is shared and discussed honestly and objectively.

As a sixth grade teacher, I used primary historical documents as a starting point for open discussion and debate. This practice allowed me to remove myself and my personal opinions from the facts. Some examples of primary documents I used were: diary entries, ration cards, newspaper ads-such as those used to advertise the sale of African-Americans, photographs, newspapers, among others. As a group, we would develop questions related to the document, as we discussed and analyzed information contained within the document. This in turn helped the students develop critical thought processes.

African-American people share a rich history and heritage, not only within the African-American community, but with all people. To exclude this from the history taught in school is to short change the students being taught. Furthermore, people who share a history create that history together.

It is a shame that many teachers in primarily Caucasian communities teach African-American history as a separate entity, often covered during "Black History month." Sadly, many students go through their primary school years being taught the same lesson over and over, usually covering Rosa Parks and Martin Luther King, on a very superficial level. I have seen the opposite end of the spectrum when teaching in African-American communities. In these situations I have seen a godlike status given to Martin Luther King Jr., while Caucasian leaders are often looked at as flawed and self-serving.

Fortunately, I have seen a shift toward balance and equity in the teaching of American/African-American history in the district I teach in. It is my hope that this shift takes place nationwide eventually, and I believe it will. One important thing is clearly changing is the segregation within local communities. This in turn impacts teaching practices within those communities.

The only way history can be shared equitably is with a foundation of respect and empathy. Teachers must be reflective and aware of how their own education and experience may affect their historical world view. Each teacher who instructs equitably will make a difference exponentially.

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