K-12 History Curriculum Endorses Slavery Reparations

CNSNEWS.com ^ | 2/12/03 | Michael L. Betsch

[kattracks]

(CNSNews.com) - A controversial African-American history initiative may be incorporated into the curriculum of public schools across the nation as early as September 2003. Twenty-four black scholars are currently finalizing lesson plans that focus on events such as the "Black Holocaust" and issues like slavery reparations that are typically not addressed by kids' textbooks.

Dennis Smith, a Milwaukee, Wis., teacher, is part of the elite group of African-American scholars from across the country who were chosen by the Thomas Day Education Project (TDEP) to participate in its 'Let It Shine' program. Both rely on federal grant money from the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) to support their educational efforts.

Smith and project partner, Yolanda Farmer, a fifth grade teacher in the Milwaukee Public School system, have been charged with the task of developing and promoting the "best teaching methods and practices" in teaching black history to public school children in grades K-12.

Smith told CNSNews.com that he and Farmer intend to develop a curriculum that will re-introduce African-American culture and history into the classroom.

"A lot of African-American kids have no idea of their culture. They have no idea what part of Africa they came from," he said. "If they know where they came from, in terms of their culture, then they'll know where they are presently."

Smith said his curriculum would rely on African-American historical resources and artifacts provided by the Black Holocaust Museum in Milwaukee.

"The Black Holocaust Museum is our history, just like slavery is our history, just like hip-hop, just like the Temptations or Elvis Presley. All of that is part of African-American history," he said. "African kids have to know and take ownership of that history, as well as white American kids must know African-American history."

Smith said the museum has already proven to be a great hands-on resource for teaching black history to local students of all races.

According to the museum's website, "America's Black Holocaust Museum was founded to educate the general public of the injustices suffered by people of African Heritage in America, and to provide visitors with an opportunity to rethink their assumptions about race and racism."

Smith said his curriculum as well as any other relevant attempt to teach African-American history should be taught when a child reaches kindergarten.

"Teaching of the young starts very early," Smith said. "You cannot wait until a child's in seventh or eighth grade and then try to teach them about their history."

He said it is important for African-American children to be able to trace their culture back to the African tribe that they are descended from, noting that he traced his own roots back to a "great empire" in Africa that existed more than 400 years ago.

But Smith said there is a greater lesson for kids, both black and white, in performing such genealogical research.

"Civilization itself started in Africa and it worked its way to this part of the world, but most African-Americans as well as white Americans don't know that," he said. "No matter how much we try to disprove that reality, it always comes back to the fact that civilization did start in Africa and then spread out throughout the rest of the planet."

The Path to Reparations

During the Civil War, Smith said black slaves were deceived into joining both Union and the Confederate armies under the false promise of free land when the war was over.

"But what both sides did after the Civil War was over, both in places like New York as well as in the South, is that they took that land," he said. "In places where there [were] promises made, promises [were] never kept."

According to Smith, racism has historically prevented African-Americans from being compensated for all of the pain and suffering that their ancestors endured.

"Every time there is a pain and suffering to someone other than a person of color, those persons are paid reparations for their pain and sufferings in order for them to be made whole, at least to some extent, restored the best you possibly can," he said. "African-Americans have suffered just as much as any group of people in this U.S. and deserve the same type of respect and care."

Smith compared the suffering and deaths of African-American slaves to the atrocities Jews suffered at the hands of Hitler during World War II and that of the Japanese-Americans who were placed in internment camps by the American government.

"After World War II, Jewish Americans [were] paid reparations because of the Nazi atrocities, and rightfully so. After WWII, Japanese-Americans [were] paid reparations because of the internment," he said. "One last example is the recent 9/11. Those Americans are being paid reparations."

"Don't look at in terms of just strictly that Let It Shine's talking about reparations," Smith said. "We'll talk about the history of a people and that will entail our history."

Smith said he would pursue funding from the Department of Education or the NEH upon approval of his curriculum by a panel of his fellow African-American educators from the Let It Shine project.

No Comparison to the Holocaust

"When people talk about 'the Holocaust' with a capital 'H', they usually refer to the holocaust against the Jews," said Neil Goldstein, executive director of the American Jewish Congress. "I don't know why one would need to take other people's terminology when it stands on its own."

Goldstein said African-Americans suffered a "horrendous" fate both in their overseas transport to the Americas and on dry land as slaves. However, he disagreed with Smith's rationale for comparing slavery to the Jewish Holocaust.

"I don't think that it's ever helpful to say that my suffering is worse than your suffering and to try to compare and contrast people's suffering," Goldstein said.

"What's particularly unique about the Jewish Holocaust is that there was an attempt to wipe-out an entire group," he said. "This was a conscious attempt to systematically exterminate all Jews. That's what was different about our particular experience."

Goldstein also disagreed with Smith's advocacy of monetary reparations for the living descendants of deceased slaves.

"Survivors get reparations. There are no survivors who are living from the days of slavery," he said. "Descendants of survivors of the Holocaust against Jews don't get reparations...it's the survivors themselves."

Black Curriculum Seen as a Social Equalizer

"It sounds like for even the white kids, they're going to find out their black roots, granted I mean we're talking probably the Stone Age when the migration of peoples [occurred]," said David Almasi, spokesman for the black conservative group, Project21.

"If you'd start teaching kids this in kindergarten, by the time they're in fifth or sixth grade, they're going to take it as fact and it's going to be going for the rest of their lives thinking that something is right when it's not," he said.

Almasi said Smith's curriculum could be compared to corporate sensitivity training sessions that are meant to foster diversity and equality amongst employees of all races, religions, sexes and sexual orientations.

Similar to sensitivity training, Almasi suspects that Smith's overall intention is to "strip everyone down to zero and start building up" as equals.

Almasi said Smith's emphasis on teaching kids of all races to trace their roots back to Africa is really an attempt to prove a history of white privilege and black oppression.

"If you want to kind of turn the argument on its head and just fire it back at [Smith], I mean, everybody has descendants that were enslaved at some point," Almasi said.

"My ancestors come from Eastern Europe and feudalism and all that was just prevalent there, so I'm sure I've got lots of slaves in my blood line. It just so happens they're hundreds of years before his," he said.

E-mail a news tip to Michael L. Betsch.

Send a Letter to the Editor about this article.

[NativeSon]

Buddy, you can have Manhattan! Now, we're gonna have to talk some more about Arizona. LOL!!

Sorry, already there (((Navajo))).

We'll put a fence around Manhattan to keep the wild, savage liberals from raiding.

[Seeking the truth]

Ah, I remember you well! My wife & I still talk about you.

I mean your impersonation of JJ was so right on, it was scary.

Welcome to FR.

It's been described as "Dodge City without the guns".

[mamalujo]

I am so thankful that I decided to home educate my children, I could not imagine having to un-teach them each day as they return from the govt schools.

[Polybius]

Dennis Smith, a Milwaukee, Wis., teacher, is part of the elite group of African-American scholars from across the country ........During the Civil War, Smith said black slaves were deceived into joining both Union and the Confederate armies under the false promise of free land when the war was over.

Talk about racist statements, Mr. Smith.

"Yep. Those Blacks were not willing to lift a finger to help in their own Emancipation.

The reason they fought in the Union Army was because they thought they were going to get free land. If they had know the truth that the U.S. Government never made such a promise, Blacks would have just sat back and watched as the white boys died by the hundreds of thousands on the battlefield.

Blacks weren't fighting to "Free the Slaves". They were fighting for "Free Land". Now I'm fighting for "Free Money".

If Mr. Smith were magically transported back in time to tell Black Union soldiers that he was telling future Black generations that they were fighting for "free land", Sgt. Stewart would have the men of the 54th Massachusetts use Smith's sorry carcass for bayonet practice.

Sgt. Henry Stewart
Company E, Fifty-fourth Massachusetts Infantry

[A2J]

May God bless you and your daughter with the finances to homeschool.

[finnman69]

"After World War II, Jewish Americans [were] paid reparations because of the Nazi atrocities, and rightfully so. After WWII, Japanese-Americans [were] paid reparations because of the internment," he said. "One last example is the recent 9/11. Those Americans are being paid reparations."

She has top be kidding me. 9/11 victim assistance is not reparations no matter how bad she wants it to be. If the money was coming from Osama bin Laden or the Saudi family it would be reparations.

[Dionysius]

An alderwoman (African-American) here in St. Louis recently made a pronouncement directed at a Caucasian colleague that pretty well sums up the current meaning of "diversity": "'Diversity' does not mean I have to listen to you! It means you have to listen to me!"

[RobbyS]

Who is going to admit that as bad as black slavery was that it was hardly worse than what the poor of Europe suffered under feudalism? That white servants in 18th Century England suffered the very same indignities that black slaves on Virginia plantations? That the poor of London who were pressed into the army and navy of England suffered as much from the lash and summary execution for offenses no greater than those of a rebellious slave? Yes, the blacks road in the back of the bus but the poor whites rode on that same bus. Except that the poor whites--and you can still see them in Kentucky and elsewhere in America--have no one to claim reparations for them.

[Van Jenerette]

...for class reading.

[nocommies]

it is sickening and utterly disappointing that we would be having this "discussion" at any point in modern times, let alone now as we face much much greater problems to deal with and threats to face. if this doesnt sum up many americans' penchant to take things for granted in this great land, nothing does. SHAME!

[Question_Assumptions]

"A lot of African-American kids have no idea of their culture. They have no idea what part of Africa they came from," he said. "If they know where they came from, in terms of their culture, then they'll know where they are presently."

And if they knew what part of Africa they came from and what it is like today, they'd appreciate America all the more. In his book Out of America (highly recommended), Keith Richberg talks about how when he finally visited one of the fortresses from which many slaves were sent to America after spending some time in Africa, all he could think was that he was glad that someone had dragged his ancestors onto a boat and out of Africa.

An African-American friend with a Kenyan wife had some South African friends who were moving out of the area. I asked if they were going back to South Africa. His response was, "NO! THEY GOT OUT!"

[Question_Assumptions]

There is more genetic diversity within Africa than outside, which lends quite a bit of credibility to the idea of African evolution. But I'm not really sure where it matters since the genetic differences between all humans are really very small. Is race real? Yes. But a lot of people confuse cultural and biological traits when it comes to race. I think many Americans would be surprised at just how tall young Japanese men are now that their diet includes McDonalds as well as rice. Remember that the Irish, Italians, and Eastern Europeans were essentially considered other races by the English, Germans, Dutch, and other Northern Europeans who settled America. Most are simply considered "white" now that they share a common culture.

[Question_Assumptions]

I have a Jamaican (naturalized citizen) friend that while clearly "black" is about as Scottish as I am in ancestory.

I think that if blacks would embrace the American flag the way George Forman did in the 1968 Olympics and call themselves Americans, they'd have a tremendous weapon to wipe away most of the remaining vestiges of racism in this country.

[YoungKentuckyConservative]

The day they pass REPARATIONS legislation is the LAST DAY I ever pay federal taxes. I'll be done with it! I hope there are plenty of ANGRY citizens that will join me.

This is socialism at its best; a redistribution of the wealth. The same old "handout" mentality is being beaten into the less able bodied and intelligent population. The communists in the school system must be stopped. My children will NEVER attend a public institution. I refuse to let them be brainwashed by this stupidity and ignorance.

[YoungKentuckyConservative]

They elicit nothing but condemnation and yawns from the general public.

For the most part I agree. But, they have the ears, anger and "frustration" of the poor children in the public schools. If you know anyone who teaches in an "urban" public school, you may have an idea of how this propaganda will be used by the next generation. Plan a seed today. Grow the reparations, tomorrow. Communists are always a patient bunch. They're chess players. They plan their moves in advance and perfect their strategy, move by move. Only an "aware" citizenry will stop this madness. The liberal morons in this nation need to realize they are building their own matrix.

[Luna]

Teaching Indoctrination of the young starts very early," Smith said. "You cannot wait until a child's in seventh or eighth grade and then try to teach them about their revisionist, anti-American history."

[Diamond]

Nothing is going to divide this country more than this push for reparations....the ruin that reparations will cause.

That's the whole intent of it. You're starting to get it.

Cordially,

[Destructor]

"We'll put a fence around Manhattan to keep the wild, savage liberals from raiding."

I think you just found a better use for the "Buffalo Soldiers! LOL!

[MomwithHope]

Sounds good, then I can tell the feminists to take a hike too, putting me on a silver dollar - that was a flop!

[Keith]

not in MY classroom...