Rev. Peterson Blasts Black History Course Mandated for Philadelphia Schools

CNSNews.com ^ | 6-13-05 | Monisha Bansal

[NewDestiny]

Black History Course Mandated for Philadelphia Schools By Monisha Bansal CNSNews.com Correspondent June 13, 2005

CNSNews.com) - The Philadelphia public school system, citing the fact that blacks encompass two-thirds of its student population, will require all students to take an African-American history course starting in September. But a conservative critic calls the decision divisive and claims Philadelphia parents "are sacrificing their children to a bunch of America-hating black liberals."

Joe Lyons, spokesperson for the School District of Philadelphia, said there has been a public outcry since the 1960s "to include more emphasis on African-American history and culture in our curriculum."

But it wasn't until February of this year that the city's School Reform Commission approved adding the African-American history class requirement.

Rev. Jesse Lee Peterson, president of the Brotherhood Organization of a New Destiny (BOND) told Cybercast News Service that he was "outraged" by the decision. "They need to be learning about this country, because they are American, they are not African. They need to be learning the greatness of America so that they can have a greater appreciation and love of their own country," said Peterson.

"Our children are already suffering with this notion that they are African-Americans. They have been brainwashed to believe they are not full Americans. It will further divide rather than unite. Parents are sacrificing their children to a bunch of America-hating black liberals," Peterson added.

Lyons said the curriculum for the course was developed by Molefi Kete Asante, professor of African-American Studies at Temple University. It begins with African history and extends through the history of African-Americans.

Lyons said "when you look into African history, there are very few textbooks developed, and all of them are at a college level, but we are working on that." The district plans on using the textbook, "The African Odyssey," authored by Michigan State University history professor Darlene Clark Hine.

According to Lyons, the curriculum is being researched to develop more history electives focusing on other minorities.

Black History Course Mandated for Philadelphia Schools

http://www.cnsnews.com//ViewCulture.asp?Page=\Culture\archive\200506\CUL20050613a.html

[mbraynard]

If they are adding this to the curriculem, I wonder what they are taking away?

These classes are an excuse not to teach stuff that matters - Math, English, Science.

[stompk]

I agree. I have no problem with this, if they are also teaching the three "R"s, but I'd also add that they need to ensure they ALSO teach ALL of Americas history.

[AbeKrieger]

You can't learn to be a lifelong victim if you are not indoctrinated to be one. Your "parents" do it, your community and political "leaders" do it, so lets fill in the last hole and have it taught at school as well.

No point in becoming an American. Stay divided, and pass the dvisiveness on to future generations. Maybe someday reparations will enrich all of you !!!!

[2banana]

Too bad they don't MANDATE that children in the Philadelphia schools must read, write and do math...

[stainlessbanner]

bttt

[Nyboe]

African history? must be a short book.

[FeeinTennessee]

Thank God he spoke out. Another level-headed conservative black telling the truth. Yes we are ALL Americans, and should be proud of that. No need to learn about African history. That's nonsense.

[kx9088]

I like this Rev. Peterson.

[brownsfan]

"African history? must be a short book."

Nice. And it's comments like that, people who are ignorant, who need this. I'm not in favor of a specific African history course. I think it should be part of world history. But, comments like that add fuel to the fire.

African history is rich. Remember, Egypt is part of Africa. I will grant you, that in the last century, or more, Africa has not produced much good.

[Zeppelin]

check out Mr. Molefi.

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1462299/bio

[Sonny M]

I asked a couple of friends who are teachers how they thought this is going to go over.

Their opinion, mainstream history will probably skip over most african american parts for the reason that it will be covered in another course in greater detail.

Also, it will probably come across as highly patronizing and condesending to the african american kids, who will now feel "left out" when mainstream American history is taught. Especially, since they will be left out, since they have their own course now.

White students, will probably get the negative brunt of these courses, which will give them persecution complexes and may result in them actually become racist and hostile to african americans....not to mention feeling superior since they will want to lash out at being persecuted.

In other words, the ideals of the program will fail miserably, and in practise, it will have a negative effect.

[Nyboe]

Egypt may be on the continent of Africa, but Egyptians were NOT Africans (blacks)

Egyptians used Africans (blacks, nubians, ect) for slave labor, that's pretty much the extent of black participation in Egyptian history.

[Nyboe]

The black race hasn't created even ONE advanced civilization and with the exception of the labor it helped provide to other races civilizations has had zero impact on world history.

[Nyboe]

Requiring a US high school student to take an African History course is about as useful as requiring them to take a cattle history course, and maybe even less useful.

[Mylo]

The Egyptians depicted themselves as racially separate from the Semitic peoples to their north and the black Africans to their south in their pictograms. But there is no doubt that they were African and darker than the Semitic people of Judah and Arabia. Also they were RULED by black Africans, from the first kings to later dynasties, the line of the Pharaohs was African.

[Chappaquiddick Crawdad]

Um... who the hell are you? Troll.

[unbalanced but fair]

I'd say you fall into the cattle history category.

[Mylo]

YEah! Nothing ever good came out of Africa, like out of the town of Nazareth. Absolutly nothing good, ever.

[ZULU]

"Parents are sacrificing their children to a bunch of America-hating black liberals"

"white" liberals. Thw White liberal establishment is responsible for ALL of this madness.

Its white liberals in Vermont who are replacing a Crusader school mascot because it might "offend" Muslims - as if any American gives a d@mn.

Its white liberals who have created an atheistic state religion in America.

Its mainly white liberals who have sought gay "marriages" and transformed the major relions of America into left-wing American hating social clubs.

Its mainly white liberals who concocted and supported affirmative action, given black racists a forum on "reparations, tried to undermine our war effort, pandered to the U.N. and refused to shut down our borders to foreign invaders.

And finally, its white liberals who have enabled black racists to behave like the kind of power mongers they are by providing them with a forum and an air of respectability.

But otherwise what this minister makes sense. Black kids ARE Americans. They should stop thinking of themselves of African-Americans or Africans. And by the way, so should white Americans stop thinking of themselves as hyphenated Americans also.