Learning African American history

When I was in the public schools, black history education was just not part of the curriculum. There were a few famous black figures who we looked at, but in general African Americans were noticeably absent from the curriculum. Even slavery seemed to barely merit the attention of my teacher. Those of us who wanted to know about the real story of this country had to do the research on our own. With  African American history becoming a bigger part of American education than ever, it is easy for us to forget how little time has passed since those days. That is why Black history month is such an important event. If we do not pay attention, Blacks could drop out of our historical narrative again.

As a person of mixed race, it was tough for me to form an identity when I was growing up. My parents were pretty torn. Some of the time, it seemed like they thought that learning about African American history was the most important thing in the world. Other times, they just wanted me to fit in. I never had an easy time with the other kids in school. I was not one of the black kids, but I was not one of the white kids either. I was supposed to learn about my history, but I could not really figure out what my history was.

Finally, I had a teacher in college who set me straight. He told me that African American history is not just the history of African Americans. It is part of the history of all Americans We are part of the story of America not because of our race, but because of our nation. Every group that has ever been a part of America has added to that history in one way or another. We can all feel regret over the bad things that happened, and we can all feel proud about our nation's accomplishments. The important thing is not to worry about what group you fit in to, but to understand that your story is part of the story of America, and the story of America is part of your story.

Nowadays, I am an enthusiastic supporter of learning African American history. It is part of the story, and the story is not over. Only when we are willing to study the history of America can we prepare the way for a brighter tomorrow.