Saving Black History from the Culture Wars

February 1st marks the start of Black History Month, a time when America calls attention to the rich and varied contributions of African Americans throughout our history, along with their sacrifices.

But in these polarized times, students are learning less about Black history. In fact, since 2021, 44 states have adopted new laws restricting what teachers can discuss with their students. Many of these laws prohibit the teaching of “divisive concepts” or any subject matter that might cause students to feel “discomfort,” “guilt,” or “anguish” because of their race. In her article, Why Teachers are Afraid to Teach History, Rachel Cohen writes, “For years, the school culture wars were waged over God and prayer, and how and whether to teach evolution and sex. But over the last decade, the fights have turned more toward how we frame our nation’s past, particularly how we characterize America’s histories of racism and colonization, and their relevance to today.” And, as journalist David W. Blight writes in the New Yorker, “Once again, Americans find themselves at war over their history—what it is, who owns it, how it should be interpreted and taught.”