Contributed
A sustained assault on Black History—both from within educational systems and through external campaigns to remove critical texts—is undermining self-esteem, cultural affirmation, and historical appreciation.
The evidence can be found in the government’s campaign to dismantle corporate and college offices of diversity, equality and inclusion and the effort to ban books from library shelves.
These actions collectively threaten the recognition and celebration of Black contributions to our country and the world.
That’s the view of the Rev. Tyler C. Millner, a Virginia pastor based in Martinsville and a longtime social justice advocate.
His response: To lead the charge to make the month for Black History in September as the new school year moves into high gear.
Launching Black History education in September, as schools reopen, offers a strategic opportunity to redefine how this vital content is embraced. We’ve long said that “Black History should be taught all year,” and he believes this campaign can serve as the catalyst for making that a reality.
This change, he said, makes the statement of the seriousness and priority Black History should be for both our schools and the community.
By changing the month, Rev. Millner notes, we shift to an educational strategy, not just a cultural and emotional engagement restricted to the month of February after which the page is turned, and we go on to the next thing.
“We call upon school divisions, churches and major civic and social groups to pause and reflect, taking the moment to affirm what an incredible and neat idea it is to begin doing Black History now,” Rev. Millner said.
He said that an exhibit in the uptown branch of the Martinsville Public Library and, hopefully, in other strategic sites will showcase this change and begin to educate the public about this initiative.
No one thing is being promoted as to the “how” to make this change.
Educators, parents/guardians, pastors and social groups leaders are urged, he said, to be creative and look for ways to be cooperative and ecumenical in making this change happen.
Remember: Black History is not only for Black people. It is for everyone.
As Dr. Carter G. Woodson, the father of Black History Week, penned, “We have a wonderful story…” As Congresswoman Shirley Chisholm once said, Black History “brings us together.”
And as Congressman John Lewis noted, “There comes a time when you have to say something. You have to make a little noise. You have to move your feet. This is the time. You have to not just dream about what could be—you get out and push, and you pull, and you preach. And you create a climate and environment to get men and women of goodwill to act.”
