The Little Harriet Productions Dialogues

The Importance of Teaching our Children about Black History

By Rachel Miller-Bradshaw

thisisyourconscience.com

James' Brown's song “I'm Black and I'm Proud”, released in 1968, became an anthem for black people during the Black Power Movement. As we usher in a new generation of young people, this same song should be a belief and innate feeling entrenched into African American children.

It has already been socially proven that individuals excel when they treasure and are proud of their culture and history.  African Americans have been deprived of learning about their history through the public educational system.  For the most part mainstream media has disseminated denigrating images about African Americans that has furthered false and insulting imagery of the group.  In all of this denigration, significant portions of African American & African history, has been lost.  And with this has been decades of lost self-esteem and pride that hasn’t been passed on our descendants.

In a country that is continually expanding with various ethnic groups it is pertinent for black parents to teach their children about their rich history. Many of our kids are lacking in the Black History department.  They learn the talking points about Dr. Martin Luther King JR. and Rosa Parks but few know about Paul Robeson or Stokely Carmichael. It's time for parents to step up and teach their children the fundamentals about who they are. It's imperative in providing them their purpose in the world.  It is all about parents doing the work-the educational resources are there.

"A people's relationship to their heritage is the same as the relationship of a child to its mother." -Dr. John Henrik Clarke

There are multiple reasons why black parents should be proactive with educating their children about their history but here are the top 5 reasons.

1. Black children will develop long lasting self-esteem derived from knowing they come from great ancestors.

2. African American children will know their importance among various racial and ethnic groups.

3. Teaching extensive Black History will equip our children to believe they can be innovators and investors.

4. Colorism could be totally eliminated from exposing black children to a various black figures of all complexions.

5. Black children can fend off historical inaccuracies.