As schools across the nation reopen online and in person, most syllabi will likely discuss current events from COVID-19 to the Black Lives Matter protests. However, revising the accuracy of African American history texts in school curriculums is often met with resistance. Less than a month ago, Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) even proposed a bill to stop the New York Times’ “1619 Project” from being adopted into school curriculums.
As a result one mother and educator, Dr. Sheva Quinn has made it her mission to facilitate transparent conversations surrounding African American history from slavery to modern times. Dr. Quinn created a free online Black history course in 2015 so youth could learn about race in America from educators that looked like them.
One white mother told NBC that she enrolled her Black child into the course so they could learn things that she does not feel equipped to teach.
Quinn says the course is designed to help students learn why organizations like Black Lives Matter exist, reports NBC News.
The Black Classical University website has six programs ranging in topics about Black American Indians, Black Lives Matter, the African American experience in the Jim Crow era, and more. Quinn says the courses were initially targeted for students in grades 4-12 but have been beneficial to people of all age ranges, from youth to adults.
Courses will reopen for enrollment starting Oct. 1, 2020.
For more information about Black Classical University, visit their website.
