Comments on Ceemarie53 (Lady C-Love) gave me an idea to welcome Black History Month

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YP-

I just noticed my name in the headline!  As a teacher of American History, I have tried many approaches.  My favorite approach to Black History month, that in our urban town, is considered the sacred cow, was when I announced that we were going to study Black History all year.  As we progressed through the traditional curriculum starting in the beginning, I played the Mini Series, "Roots" that covered the same time span in history.  I wasn't sure how '90s kids would react to a very '70s style TV series, but it dovetailed wonderfully with our textbook, that had a special section on Alex Haley, the author of Roots.  I always made my students fill out "view-sheets" that focused their listening and viewing skills, so they were always actively listening and connecting with the text.  (or if a kid missed class, they could at least read about what happened.)

The classes did a slave ship exercise in which they cleared out the desks to make room on the floor and I think most of the kids participated.  They laid on the floor, (carpeted) shoulder to shoulder (loose-packed.  I wasn't going to let them try tight-packed, that would require them to lie on their shoulders as close together as spoons in a drawer. No "spooning!!"  I could imagine how that would sound over the supper table.  Our history class was on the floor, spooning.....)

I turned off the lights to darken the room.  I played a tape (this was 11 years ago) of sea-sounds and a creaking ship while a  student dramatically read from Haley's book excerpts of how the ships were loose packed and tight packed, and the conditions, etc. etc.  The kids (juniors in high school) started out in good humor; "isn't this fun, let's take a nap, hey, we can talk;" but by the end of the exercise, they were quite somber and many were complaining of having to lie flat for so long (maybe 15-20 minutes) and some even were rubbing their ankles as if they'd been shackled. I even had one girl who felt seasick!  Then when they saw the experience recreated on Roots; well, there was nothing but enthusiasm for watching the series after that throughout the year.  

No one in the 90's made a big deal out of a series that had black heroes and white villains. It put faces on history for them. It was my last year to teach because my Parkinson's had progressed to the point of interfering; the kids would start to watch me tremor than listen to what I was saying.  It was time for me to take care of me. But I am in favor of incorporating if your school insists on following a traditional curriculum. Some ultra-conservatives are crying that we were rewriting American History and they have cited some egregious examples from texts that are in print and being used.   But a lot object to singling out different segments of our student population.  February, in some schools, is no more than a special bulletin board listing people in the black community who have impacted our lives such as MLK and Rosa Parks, but that is hardly adequate, I'm sure you would agree.

Sorry to blog up your space, but I just wanted to throw my two cents into the discussion.

Lady Ceeeee

posted by LadyCeeMarie on February 2, 2007 at 12:14 PM | link to this | reply

Thanx Mary/faholo, Kat02, OneTimeAgain, Taps- let me explain

Think of it as per the woman's rights/women's movement. After centuries of exploitation and enduring machismo, is it not corrective that affirmative action means a woman and persons of color NOT be deprived of access these days?

The idea is to seek some balance now for the imbalance of the past. Otherwise, we wash our hands and do nothing. We have to start somewhere, somehow... India does this with the biggest affirmative action program in the world for the Unctouchbale - or what their Constitution calls "Scheduled Castes and Tribal Groups" (there are many forest tribes still not fully assimilated into the Indian economy and society). IN South Africa too, there is a form of affirmative action and a flood of publications on African Culture &History that was mostly absent under apartheid. A similar case is made by the Jews, and holocaust books are studied at all levels of the school and college curriculum. I see the point about not focussing on ONE month; but this is transitional. It will become more in the future.

We have to start somewhere or get the attention of people somehow. As we did here...to continue the conversation. What I like is that Black History month celebrates the Great Emancipator, Lincoln, as much as African-American culture and successes. Recall the Martin lUther King was born in January, not February. Shalom dear readers, Neil

posted by salem8 on February 1, 2007 at 6:27 PM | link to this | reply

Beautiful pictures! I hope all is well with you!

faholo

posted by faholo on February 1, 2007 at 7:31 AM | link to this | reply

Neil

I think One Time and Taps said it all wonderful post

posted by Kat02 on February 1, 2007 at 6:21 AM | link to this | reply

Ypunday.. why do we have to have a seperate month for Black history?

I think it should be incororated into our history educations all year long. This has always bothered me.. Why do we segregate this part of history? I understand the contributions of black people are very important and I whole heartedly would like to see more of them incorpoarted into my childrens text books.. but why only one month? I guess for people such as my self who are not in school this is like any other holiday.. but the schools here in the south spend an entire month on black history and then they have doen their duty to educate our children on black culture and contributions. I dont like it. I want it taught year round. 

wow.. got up on my soap box didnt I?

posted by OTA. on January 31, 2007 at 6:35 PM | link to this | reply

YPunday

February is a wonderful time each year to learn something that we don't already know about Black History.  There are always plenty of stories, newspaper articles, blog posts, radio and TV programs especially for that reason during the month.  Libraries and book stores will have special displays and book suggestions.  There is absolutely no reason for anyone not to become more learned on the subject or to feel an appreciation for what has been given to our nation by the Black people.

posted by TAPS. on January 31, 2007 at 5:28 PM | link to this | reply