Teaching Black History in Secondary Schools: A Bibliography

Abstract

TODAY more and more history teachers realize the importance of having their students know and understand the roles and contributions of the various ethnic minority groups in the history of the United States. The histories of these parts of the whole is to be more than fiction. The study of American history in the schools has been and still is incomplete as far as the role played by blacks in the history of the nation is concerned. To continue to ignore the contributions of blacks serves not only to distort history, but also to deprive the black American of his heritage. In response to black demands for black history and black studies, educational institutions at all levels have made some attempts to institute such courses and programs. However, many teachers are convinced that an exclusive concentration of black history, in separate courses for example, poses the danger of isolating the contributions of blacks from the mainstream of American history, and tends to promote isolation at the present moment as well. What seems to be required is an effort by teachers to integrate into existing course structures a fuller presentation of the role of black Americans. It is the purpose of this article to present introductions to the various types of materials which a history teacher can consult to make his classroom presentations more complete and more challenging.