Black History is American History: Why Denying It Feeds Systemic Oppression

Black History is American History

"The way to right wrongs is to turn the light of truth upon them." A quote from civil rights activist, journalist, educator, sociologist, and one of the founders of the NAACP, Ida B. Wells. What rings louder today is the obsession with trying to erase history. More specifically, the history of Black people in this country.

We live in a vulnerable society where those who feed systemic oppression can ban books that are about or authored by Black people. Books like The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas, All Boys Aren't Blue by George M. Johnson, and Go Tell It On the Mountain, a semi-autobiographical by James Baldwin, are just examples of books that have made it to ban book lists. It hasn't even been 60 years since the Civil Rights Movement, and we are seeing the bulk of what was fought for being stripped away.

Since this year's inauguration, which somberly fell on MLK Day, a number of efforts to disrupt inclusive progress have been made. For those paying attention, this is just a continuation of the anti-Black and brown actions made during Trump's first presidency. Efforts to end Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion or DEI initiatives have affected college campuses, corporate America, and retail chains. These radical moves have also cost individuals jobs as well.

Black people make up over 21 million of America's workforce. They are a force in every layer of society. From advanced degrees to successful entrepreneurship to running the cash register at your local grocer, Black people are engrained in the fabric of society. The history of what it took to get here has been recorded well, regardless of what's banned or not.

So, what is the end goal? How does the erasure of teaching Black History and removing necessary programs that mitigate racist practices aid this country in moving forward? In short, it doesn't. The reality of the matter is Black History is simply the history of America. Whether or not those eager to continue the work of their oppressive ancestors come to accept that doesn't change the facts.