by Charles Ray

Created on: February 06, 2009

There is no argument: the history of America is incomplete without a discussion of the role played by every group and nationality in creating that history. There are those who feel that to have special classes for African-American history is somehow a distortion of the country's historical story. If not for the sad fact that for over two centuries the role played by free blacks, slaves and the descendants of slaves was systematically expunged from the history taught in our classrooms.

The history of the opening of the American west is a classic example. Those of us who came of age during the early days of television (for the young reader, that is the 40s onward) will remember the shows we saw about the cowboys and indians. All the cowboys were white, except for the occaisonal Chinese cook, or black buffoon who was the servant of the white hero. Mexicans were included, but usually as villains. The once exception was the Cisco Kid. What we saw on TV and in the movies was unfortunately reflected in what we received in the classroom.

Most Americans are unaware that the cavalry that came charging over the rise to defend the wagon train, in reality, might have been black rather than white. The 9th and 10th Cavalry Regiments, organized initially for colored troops during the Civil War, were instrumental in protecting wagon train routes, and guarding the southern border. The Seminole-Negro Indian Scouts, descendants of blacks who were part of the Florida Seminoles who were moved to Oklahoma and who subsequently fled to Mexico, were among the most feared U.S. units along the Texas border for many years. They played a key role in battles with the Commanche tribes, and were as feared by outlaws as the much-heralded Texas Rangers.

The history of this country has been a colorful one, with important roles played by every national, cultural and ethnic group here. African-Americans have been there for most of it, and it diminishes the grandeur of this great democracy to ignore that role. From the invention of the cotton gin to advances in blood transfusion, there have been people of color involved in the development. If students leave school unaware of this, they are not truly educated; they have only been indoctrinated. Much of the prejudice that exists in the U.S. is fostered by this ignorance of our true history. Hopefully, there will come a day when it will no longer be necessary to teach African-American history as a separate course, because the contributions of African-Americans will be integrated fully into the historical curriculum. Until that day, I believe it essential that it be a part of every American's education.

It is said that those who are ignorant of history are condemned to repeat it. Those who are educated with false or incomplete history are also condemned to repeat it.

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