Quote:How many black history books have you read, classes you took? The populatuon of blacks in America is a little under 13%. Of course you wouldn't hear anything about the other players, when our American history is so heavily skewed to one group of people. When I was in highschool we spent less than two weeks on topics such as Slavery, Jim Crow, andthe civil rights period. I think we spent more time romanticizing about the leaders of old than anything else. It took me going to college and becoming a grown man before I learned any of the nitty gritty about my African/European/and Native American ancestry.But you are implying that firsts are the only thing that matter? You are so totally and utterly clueless. Sorry the world is not color blind, sorry race does exist. I did not invent the term. Some European from way back when did despite there being no biological basis for it. Russell sees himself as a black male, and as a black male his experiences are colored by his culture and all the history that is tied to it. Sorry it bothers you so. Cry baby.

 

I realize that this is a bit late, but I know that I'm significantly younger than many of the posters on here and thought that this anecdote was worth sharing:


In my AP U.S. History class we had a required research paper on an important individual of African-American ancestry. I distinctly remember spending an entire class discussing how owning slaves should effect the legacy of Thomas Jefferson. The entire class (a primarily Caucasian one at that) came to the conclusion that while it shouldn't erase him from the history books his position as a slave owner should be noted, at the very least, in every history book unlike it was when our teacher was in school. We spent more time on the effects of racial tension on the Civil War than we did on the Civil War itself. The civil rights era was the longest unit in our class barring the American Revolution.


Now, I can't vouch for "regular" courses because I didn't take them and none of my friends had them, but as far as I know schools are becoming less afraid to discuss matters like these. I had the luxury of a brand new school with brand new materials too, but I hope that it at least foreshadows a change in what is taught.

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