Letter to the Editor: The Importance of Teaching African American History in Schools

Dear Editor,

The education system has been among the pillars in the formation of the future of our country, and now we are at the crossroads where teaching and preservation of the history of the African Americans is under scrutiny. To continue into the 21st century, there are political parties that are promoting the elimination of important portions of American history in school curricula, especially the narrative of slavery, segregation, and civil rights. These aspects of American history have turned into political controversy, and attempts have been made to diminish or even remove them in textbooks. However, the eradication of African American history would not just be a disservice to the African Americans but also to all Americans, as the history is directly connected to the prior narrative of the United States.

The origin of the history of African Americans traces back to the Atlantic Slave Trade, which caused millions of Africans to find themselves in the Americas under horrible conditions. This history is not just a history of past injustices but is closely interwoven with the history of America as a country (Scott-Jones & Kamara, 2020). The economic, social, and cultural background of American society was laid on slavery. Through their plight, African Americans have significantly contributed towards the growth and development of the nation, either in the realms of work, politics, science, or culture. One cannot know the actual history of the United States without comprehending the influence of African American history.

The Necessity of Teaching African American History

The only way to grasp the reasoning behind the necessity of teaching African American history is to put it in the context of American history. African American history is not an independent story but a crucial element of the country's history. Their work in the American economy has played a significant role in the growth of the American economy since the first enslaved Africans were brought to Jamestown in 1619. The contribution of African Americans to the growth of industries, agriculture, and society resonates nowadays. Even better, the fight for African Americans to enjoy freedom provided the platform for the principles of democracy on which the country was established. The fight towards equality, despite the unbelievable adversity, helped shape America's moral and social landscape. American history will never be complete without recognizing the African Americans' roles in favoring and resisting oppression and molding the nation's political, cultural, and economic landscape.

African Americans may be described not only by the oppression, but also as a profound story of power, perseverance, and endurance. Despite the incredible inhumanity of the enslavers, the enslaved Africans were capable of maintaining their cultures, building their families, and fighting against the oppressors in numerous aspects. A few examples of the relentless passion for freedom and dignity were escape attempts, revolts, and the creation of self-sustaining villages. One of them is the Underground Railroad, which was a group of abolitionists and a haven that provided victims of slavery with an opportunity to escape the insensitivity of slavery (Scott-Jones & Kamara, 2020). Harriet Tubman was a formerly enslaved person who came to be remembered as a woman who put her life in danger to assist hundreds of people in living in freedom. Her fearlessness and determination can represent the bigger trend of defiance in the history of the African American people. Rebellion and escape were accompanied by the traditions of spirituals and culture of their own, which was the strength of the enslaved Africans and provided them with the feeling of integrity and belonging to one community and one mission that were to evolve throughout American history.

The Civil War and Reconstruction events were crucial, as they redefined the history of African Americans and the country. The other historical event in American history was the Emancipation Proclamation of 1863, which declared that the slaves in the Confederate States would be free (Wintemute et al., 2025). The enactment of the Thirteenth Amendment in 1865 officially abolished slavery, which had marked most of the history of the American nation. The time of reconstruction of the post-Civil War era turned out to be the time when African Americans were going to face a significant change in the political, social, and cultural conditions. The black people experienced significant achievements during this period, including the election of the first black American U.S. senators, Hiram Revels and Blanche K. Bruce, who became the icons of the new political power that the South had (Wintemute et al., 2025). Nonetheless, this phase of development was followed by violent resistance, which resulted in the emergence of white superiority, Jim Crow legislation, and disenfranchisement of black people, which would occur in the future.

The Ongoing Impact of African American History

The importance of teaching African American history goes beyond just the classroom and directly influences the present. The lives of people have been experiencing a social and financial gap due to slavery and segregation that exists to date. The Civil Rights Movement of the 60s, which was spearheaded by Martin Luther King Jr., Rosa Parks, and Malcolm X, found it hard to reverse the centuries-old institutional racism. The Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965 marked progress, but the battle against racial inequality has not ended.

The most noticeable manifestation of this conflict, in its turn, is the Black Lives Matter movement that appeared as a reaction to the disproportionate violence and systematic discrimination of African Americans. It is not the movement of the issue of police brutality but rather the awareness of the long-existing issue of racial inequality, which has existed since time immemorial. These movements and the struggle for justice and equality within the United States are yet to be concluded. However, they are still influenced by the history of the African Americans and the plights they experienced.

The Need for African American History in Education

Studying African American history at school is critical because it will allow students to learn about the contributions of great people and the struggles of African Americans of the past. The youths who lack this information risk developing a broad or even a distorted idea as to what the past of the nation was, thereby supporting the negative stereotypes and illusions (Hogan et al., 2023). The history of the African American people cannot be separated from the history of American society's development since it has contributed significantly to some of the most critical aspects of American society, including politics, culture, and social processes (Glenn et al., 2024). By learning about this history, students can observe the resolution and perseverance of African Americans. They are better placed to observe the dynamics of the American experience.

African American history can help people empathize and understand others regardless of social status. Through their experiences and the plight of the African Americans, the students of diverse backgrounds might have better knowledge of the plight of different groups of people at one point or another in history. Such consciousness will dismantle the prejudices and enable the students to perceive other people as human, creating a more diverse and humane society (Hogan et al., 2023). Examining African American history also makes students start thinking about how their lives and experiences can be linked with the overall history of the United States (Glenn et al., 2024). This viewpoint can inform the views and behaviors that will likely affect how students treat each other and serve communities.

The history of African Americans is interrelated with American history. American identity cannot be 100 percent without mentioning the decisive role of African Americans in shaping the country into what it is now. The struggle to find fairness, justice, and equality has been the nation's endeavor since slavery, through the Civil Rights Movement, which has been taking place to see the nation living up to its ideals. The study of African American history in schools does not just serve as a means of making students learn about the contributions and sacrifices of African Americans, but also of learning more about the country's complex history. This knowledge will enable students to be more prepared to contribute to the existing efforts to ensure society is more just, inclusive, and equitable.

Conclusion

By abolishing the study of African American history in schools, it is not only an injustice to the African Americans, but also to the rest of the Americans. The history of African Americans forms part of the United States' history from the Atlantic Slave Trade until Reconstruction. The resistance, resilience, and progress stories are abundant in this history, and every American has to know about them and learn their value. The African American struggle has marked the country and still affects the contemporary struggle for justice and equality. We must now instill African American history in our schools so that future generations will recognize the richness of the American past and the need to unite to establish a fairer society.

Sincerely,

[Student’s Name]