Black History Month: We have come a long ways since our school days. We were Negro History in the 50's.

Article 6, Volume 3                                                                         February 28, 2013

Black History: Omission Galore in the Public School's Curriculum in the '50s and 60's

We, as a black race, have come a long ways since our school days in the 1950's and 1960's.

The study of black history is still relative new in America.  Recognition of black history as an annual tradition started in 1926, as "Negro History Week" and later changed to "Black History Month" When the tradition started the study and documentation of black history was rare.  Even after the documentation started it took years for information about the black race to be included in the curriculum in public schools and colleges.

Dr. Carter G. Woodson

We owe the celebration of Black History Month and the study of black history in schools and other venues in our society to Dr. Carter G. Woodson.  He was a person who accomplished a lot. He worked in the coal mines of Kentucky, and didn't start high school until he was twenty years old. He eventually received a PhD from Harvard University.

Dr. Woodson chose the second week of February to celebrate "Negro History Week" because it was the birth month of two men who had a significant impact on the black race.

In the Roots

We, as a race are interwoven into America's roots, growth, and culture. If you were in the public schools of Nansemond County (now Suffolk,Virginia) in the 50's and 60's your school's curriculum included  would not have included much about the black race in America.

Back then we celebrated "Negro History Week" the second week of February. Mostly, we studied and gave presentations, year after year, about four persons. They were:  Booker T. Washington, George Washington Carver, Mary McCloud Bethune and Dr. Ralph Bunche.

It was forbidden to refer to a person as "Black".  If you violated this decree, you would be sent home for a day or longer.

Deceived

Africa was referred to as "The Third World", a place were we should not want to go nor be connected to the natives there.

We got a steady dose of Tarzan, Jane, and Boy running around and swinging through trees in Africa. The natives were shown as primarily a bunch of stupid people.

Classrooms

I cannot blame the teachers for the lack of discussion about the black race in classrooms.  I believe they were under strict orders to stick to the curriculum. If they swayed away from it they would be subject to be fired. Despite those perceived restrictions, some teachers had discussions about integration and segregation in schools and the workplace.

My Experience

During that era, I was not completely in the dark about race issues. I was an active member of the youth NAACP, that was comprised mostly of students from Booker T. Washington High in Suffolk. We met regularly. If memory serves, Rayfield Vines was our president. In the spring of 1958 we sponsored a bus to Washington, D.C. to participate in a Civil Rights March. A lot of noted black leaders were present.

I'll never forget my first trip to D.C We didn't go pass the monument grounds. But then, it was not a sight seeing trip.

Conclusion

In conclusion, we have come a long ways since our school days in the 50's and 60's. We can truly thank God and say we are blessed.

Sign out quote:  "Don't just count your years, make your years count"

For more about what's on Grady's mind go to Grady Bryant's Expression at: www.myopinions999.blogspot.

                              Copyright 2013 Grady E. Bryant, Sr. All Rights Reserved.