TW: Rape and violence

  Since elementary school the lessons on Black History have been repetitive. Learning about Rosa Parks, Martin Luther King Jr., Malcom X, Slavery etc. They are very important historical black figures and necessary topics, but there are many more important people, topics, and important details that students should be learning about.

     The information that is taught is very vague and gives the impression to students that racism is no longer relevant. These lessons that are taught about the 3 main black figures we usually learn about also fail to mention other very important details most likely because these lessons are extremely short. There are very few lessons or conversations in class that focus on racism in the present for example the KKK and The Proud Boys are very active racist terrorist groups in the U.S. Charlottesville High School is a fairly diverse school. Black students and other students of color still experience racism and it is an important topic that we can not ignore.

        Learning about all history is important but going deep into detail is even more important. We learn about presidents who we are taught to look up to and praise. Many of these Presidents owned slaves and were racist. Any student of any race should not be taught to praise racists. For example Abraham Lincoln is praised in schools for freeing the slaves and it is always left out that his reason for freeing the slaves was so they didn’t rebel against him. And rarely being taught about how SEVERE slavery was not just people picking cotton and the underground railroad. It was slaves getting raped, beaten, being burned alive, locked in cages and used as entertainment at zoos and as circus acts. These things have rarely EVER been taught in a lesson at school and can no longer be bypassed.

         Black History is poorly taught at Charlottesville High School. Students are not properly educated on Black History or present racial issues and we need to change that.