In many ways, this is the best of times and the worst of times for African Americans. Our stories are getting more public attention; our artists are getting more exposure and recognition; and our images are being portrayed in a more positive and reaffirming light. But this occurs against a backdrop of heightened racial intolerance, persistent efforts to curb voting rights, and a national movement to limit discussions in schools about race and racism in order to promote “unity”. What can parents do to help their kids through these volatile and confusing times?
We at Beccastone believe it is very important for young people to stay positive, be hopeful about the future and know there are no limits on what they can accomplish. We believe that one way to foster a positive outlook is to understand the struggles and achievements of our ancestors, many of whom faced even more outright hostility than would be tolerated today. Our kids need to know about these struggles so they can be proud of who they are and confident in who they can be. Learning about your history can be uplifting and inspiring. It can make the impossible seem possible and within reach.
But under the guise of promoting a shared set of beliefs and protecting white students from being made to feel guilty about the legacy of slavery, some school districts are cutting back on discussions about black history and culture and stripping curricula of materials on this subject. This robs our children of knowledge that could strengthen their confidence and foster a positive outlook on life.
We believe white students are similarly disserved when they are deprived of learning about a fundamental part of US history that informs current events and interpersonal relations. The work force of the future is diverse. It does not help a young person to have an incomplete picture of US history and remain uneducated about the culture and history of some of their peers and bosses.
Noted journalist Charlayne Hunter Gault once wrote, “Our children are our future, and while in my reporting I have found that our history—that is, the history of all our people—is not being taught in our schools these days, the need to combat malicious memes that are trying to fill that gap needs all the attention it can get…Our union may not be perfect, but we owe it to our children to educate them perfectly.”
BLACK GOLD
To help parents give students tools to help them navigate today’s challenging environment, Beccastone developed Black Gold, a digital social studies course for grades 6-12 on prominent African Americans in specific fields.
While the course is geared to the home-schooling community, it can be used by anyone seeking to enrich their child’s knowledge about black history and culture. And that should be every parent in America who wants their child to succeed in the multi-racial and multi-ethnic workforce of the future.
Parents are invited to try out Black Gold by getting access to the resource materials in the first unit of the course and workbook activities for a low introductory price.
Additional units are available to deepen your child’s knowledge and prepare them for a limitless future.
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