On behalf of the students at the University of North Carolina, we propose a Black History (BH) requirement in order to graduate. We are saddened, frustrated and angered with recent events and with what is going on in our country at this time. We are not alone in that. In order to move forward as individuals and as a community, all voices must be heard and respected. The best way to do so is through education. As stated in the university’s mission statement, UNC “has charted a bold course of leading change to improve society and to help solve the world’s greatest problems.” With the school’s commitment to the liberal arts and sciences, STEM majors must be well-rounded with history and art while liberal arts students must learn how to solve proofs and take a science lab. The benefit of this type of education is that students are not simply one sided, instead they develop into lifelong learners who know a bit about everything, of course with an emphasis on hopeful careers. 

This being said, UNC offers a mostly white-washed curriculum. Where we strive in mandating requirements to graduate, we lack an acknowledgment of some of our peers. There are history requirements, such as North Atlantic World (NA), Beyond the North Atlantic World (BN) and World Before 1750 (WB) and there is also a U.S. Diversity (US) requirement. While this is a good step in the right direction, it is not enough. For students who would not like to learn about the country or state’s dark history of slavery and oppression, they can opt out and take a class about Queer History, Native American History, Feminist History, or Religious History (to name a few). These are great opportunities to learn more about a topic students are passionate or curious about and it is good that the U.S. requirement is in place. But, students are not required to learn about Black History and instead can further their education without facing white guilt or the simple acknowledgment of our collective history as a nation and even as a university. 

A potential counterargument to this requirement is those who do not care/agree could harm the learning environment. While some students may attend a class for this requirement begrudgingly, isn’t that another reason to include such a requirement? For those who don’t have an interest in Black History or who don’t deem it important to learn it nonetheless? We would argue that those reasons are some of the fundamental arguments towards this requirement, as it creates a mandatory education for those who may simply not care. This is because not having a Black History requirement allows students (particularly white students, which is 67% of the 2019 class make up) to settle in their own racial comfort, without questioning their ancestors or what they were taught in high school. Not only can this requirement help students acknowledge privilege, history and oppression, but it can introduce and expand on racial literacy, which is the teachings and socializations of anti-racist behaviors and beliefs. In today’s world, it is not simply being taught these lessons, it is the expectation of treating others as equals and behaving with these lessons already acquired for the workplace. 

How many students know the university was built by slaves? We have the Unsung Founders Memorial to remember and potentially apologize for UNC’s history of white supremacy and oppression, but it is certainly small, especially in comparison to the now-removed Silent Sam. UNC is a particularly important university, not only as the first public university, but as a well-known and respected institution in the south. Because of its flagship status, it has a responsibility to be a leader for the future. As previously stated, we have a U.S. Diversity requirement, which is common among many universities. But, as a leader among public and southern universities, do we not want to make a statement on Black History in this country and the respect we have for our black students? UNC had a student populace in 2019 of 12% black students. With just under 30,000 students at UNC during Fall 2019, there would be approximately 3,600 black students. As a university aiming to create an inclusive community, wouldn’t we want those students to feel as equally respected as the white majority on campus? While a mandatory Black History class may not fix all the pitfalls and inequality on campus, UNC could be an influential start on how other universities acknowledge racial history. 

A significant concern of this requirement is financial, as universities tend to function as businesses. Adding a requirement would cause no financial strain on UNC because we already have plenty of wonderful classes available. Some students take advantage of them, some are unaware they exist and others refuse to take them as they may be deemed unimportant, uninteresting or simply against their “values.” These are the exact reasons why at least one class on Black History should be mandated. Universities host loads of students with different interests and beliefs, but part of advanced education is to question previously held beliefs and learn about nitty-gritty history. There are many courses about the origin of the U.S. or history focused on founding fathers and presidents, but what about the population? Particularly the black population? Much of the culture and history regarding such is ignored in these basic classes that teach our history. Luckily, UNC does offer plenty of courses within the African, African American, and Diaspora Studies (AAAD) department, as well as quite a few in the sociology department and others. A few examples are: SOCI 122 Race and Ethnicity, AAAD 333 Race and Public Policy in the United States, HIST 278 The Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade, and PHIL 274 Race, Racism and Social Justice: African-American Political Philosophy. Because these classes are already available to students, there wouldn’t be a financial strain on the university for furthering educating their students, but we know there is a monetary aspect in all potential change. 

UNC has a responsibility to their students. The white student population has plenty of courses and professors to relate to, while students of color are not given the same readily-available advantages. Today we are fighting for black lives. Why are we doing this? UNC students are fighting for black lives because they fundamentally matter. We need to educate our students to the fullest extent possible. We need to mandate Black History as a graduation requirement because it is the right thing to do. We need to be on the right side of history.