Black history will be more incorporated into Del. public school curriculum this year
DELAWARE – As students return to the classroom this fall, Black k-12 public and charter school students in Delaware can expect to see more of themselves in the lessons they learn. House Bill 198, recently signed by Governor John Carney, requires Black history to be infused into all areas of curriculum in those schools.
“Black history is American history”
For example, bill sponsor Representative Sherry Dorsey Walker says students in science class might learn about Katherine Johnson, the first Black woman hired at NASA. In math class, the work of Benjamin Banneker, who is credited with helping design Washington D.C. and Indianapolis, Ind., could be discussed. Or, students may dive deeper into the works of Dr. Maya Angelou and Toni Morrison in English class.
“People need to get a better understanding, nationally, and especially in the state of Delaware, which was one of the last states to free the slaves, one of the last states to implement the Emancipation Proclamation. That’s why it’s so important to ensure that Black history is taught,” said Rep. Dorsey Walker.
Rep. Dorsey Walker says with these important lessons, she hopes Black students will feel more empowered, and be better educated about the history of their community.
“Black history is indeed American history. Down through the years, it literally has been almost obliterated. When you know your history, you know that you are the descendants of kings and queens. That makes it that much more difficult for someone to pick up a gun and shoot someone who looks just like them,” said Rep. Dorsey Walker. “When people have an understanding of their history, and the struggles of another community so to speak, you have a little more empathy for the individuals.”
Understanding Each Other
But, it’s not just about Black students, according to Rep. Dorsey Walker. She says students of other races and ethnicities will also stand to benefit from learning Black history.
“It’s a rich history, it’s an important history, and it’s imperative that we all learn about each other – our differences, our similarities. We have to learn to respect one another,” said Rep. Dorsey Walker.
Rep. Dorsey Walker says the catalyst for creating the legislation came from students. She says they approached her, expressing that they weren’t seeing enough of themselves in their textbooks and lessons. Rep. Dorsey Walker says she got to work, pulling in input from educators of all races and ethnicities.
“Everyone who will be teaching this subject matter will not be a person of color. So, we needed to ensure that we had the buy in of educators, and that we had educators at the table, that educators’ voices were magnified,” said Rep. Dorsey Walker.
Equity and Equality in the Classroom
But, the mission expands beyond classroom walls; Rep. Dorsey Walker says unless every student has a foundational understanding of where they or their peers come from, equity and equality in the real world can never be achieved.
“All lives can’t matter until Black lives matter. That’s not disparaging anyone else,” said Rep. Dorsey Walker. “[The legislation] gives us the tools to deal with those two dynamics: institutional and systemic racism. We have to start by ensuring that there’s equity and equality in the classroom.”
