Many people are choosing to educate themselves on the history of systemic racism in America in response to the protests of the Black Lives Matter movement. Thanks to resources on the Internet, documentaries on streaming services, podcasts, books, and many more, there has never been an easier time for people to access these valuable resources. Unfortunately, many children can't choose to access these resources themselves unless parents or guardians provide it for them.

The public education system in Indiana does not cover issues involving systemic racism. I remember learning about MLK and Rosa Parks, during Black History Month, and thinking that racism ended after the Civil Rights Movement. Based on the current climate, this could not be further from the truth. 

The American public education system is doing a disservice to children across the country and within Indiana by not making this a required topic. By choosing to ignore America's problematic past, we are doomed to repeat it. Some courses in higher education may touch on the issues involved with systemic racism, but it is a never ending topic, and impossible to cover by taking a one semester gen-ed. This means that high school students that choose not to pursue higher education or college students that do not take specific courses will not learn about the issues surrounding systemic racism in this country at all, unless they elect to do so on their own. 

By demanding Governor Holcomb to require this topic in the curriculum of Indiana's public schools we are ensuring that children are receiving a full and well rounded education. Anything less is a disservice to our children, our state, and our country. Education is the most important tool in fighting ignorance. The sooner children begin to learn about this complicated topic, the more prepared they will be to address the real world problems surrounding it. Racism today is not as overt and obvious as it has been in the past. It is present and well-hidden within our politics, our prisons, and our own classrooms. Let's raise this next generation to be better educated, less ignorant, and more prepared to address the systemic racism that this country was built on.