Teaching Truth is Under Attack – Experts Say Be Cautious
President Donald Trump’s removal of all diversity, equity, and inclusion programs has left the country divided, confused, and uncertain of what the next four years will look like for Black, Brown, and Indigenous people.
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As major universities like Rutgers cancel their fair highlighting historically Black colleges, and teachers take to social media to express their fears around teaching Black history, experts are encouraging educators to push on but remain diligent and safe, especially during Black History Month.
RELATED: We Don’t Need Permission to Celebrate Black History Month
Stay Up-to-Date With State Legislation
“If you’re in a red state you wanna be very cautious,” historian and TikTok star Ernest Crim III says. “Blue states depending on the governor’s, you probably don’t need to be as cautious because they’ll probably have certain protections in place.”
Last November, the Florida Department of Education released a list of over 700 books that were either challenged or banned from K-12 schools — a longtime tactic multiple school districts have used to remove Black positivity and queer themes from bookshelves.
States like Florida, Texas, and Utah have made it clear they will not be protecting or pushing any efforts to teach Black history, while other states are required to feature lessons on slavery, civil rights, and full American history into the curriculum.
In Illinois, where Crim resides, districts are mandated to include Black history. Based on the leadership of a district, that may not be a priority.
“Pay really close attention to any information your district has put out already that communicates how they feel about these things,” Crim says. “How they made statements about ICE and protecting kids. Have they made statements about securing a teacher’s freedom to teach these diverse perspectives — that’s important.”
Make Everywhere a Classroom for Learning
Last February, teachers sent home letters asking parents for permission to teach simple lessons on Martin Luther King Jr. and allow students to read books by Black authors, or to watch a movie about Ruby Bridges. This year, some teachers may be afraid to incorporate Black history into lessons.
Sharif El-Mekki, founder and CEO of the Center for Black Educator Development, encourages teachers to lean on the practices of Black ancestors and create innovative ways to still teach regardless of what executive orders, or districts say can happen inside of schools.
“Everywhere is a classroom and treat it accordingly, El-Mekki says. “Everywhere is learning opportunities and in our history in this country and beyond, but particularly in the context of this country, that’s always been.” . Whether it was on a Mississippi steamboat in a cave, an attic, or a house of worship, he says, “we’ve always found ways, because we learn from the cradle to the grave, and we can’t take this concept of learning from the cradle to the grave and say, we only do it between eight and five.”
With over 400,000 followers and 10 million likes on TikTok, Crim is skilled at creatively using social media to learn, teach, and connect. Through his “Crim’s Black History Field Trips,” series and connecting anti-Black racism to the lack of universal health care he can educate hundreds of thousands of people without limitations.
“They might try to ban TikTok again, but they ain’t banning social media, so follow folks who are putting that information out there,” Crim says. “I’m posting several times a day. Follow my page.” He recommends following other content creators who promote Black history, like Gen Z star Khalil Green and share this information with your students. Let them know who are good pages to follow and do things like fact check.”
It was less than 50 years ago when President Gerald Ford formally recognized Black History Month. Before then, however, Black people found innovative ways to connect to their roots, educate their children, and appreciate Black achievement.
Crim says that informal education took different forms, including after-school events and community-sponsored multicultural events. But parents, he says, gotta step to the forefront to say, “Look, our kids should be learning our history at home anyway. I don’t just mean by the parents. We should be teaching it in our communities anyway,” churches.
Creating and Building Community
Using platforms like the pulpit or Instagram can help keep our K-12 students engaged, even if their schools ignore Black History Month. It’s just as important for teachers to stay connected, too.
A 2022 study found that a quarter of all teachers reported that limitations on lessons involving race or gender influenced their choice of curriculum materials or instructional practices, an indication that legislation directly affects what happens in the classroom.
It’s important for teachers to “find your community” as a support system, El-Mekki says. “They could be right there within the building, it could be in proximity – but you got to find your village, so to speak, to help, even as adults.”
Crim agrees.
“We need bold people who are going to break those barriers,” Crim says. Still, “Don’t do this without support… Don’t do anything alone. Check with your teachers’ union first: ‘Will you support me if I do this? Can we do this collaboratively?’”
“If you don’t have support from the union and other teachers do it covertly,” he says. “But be careful because we don’t need good teachers losing their jobs this season.”
Creatively Keep Parents and Students Informed
Before the era of Classroom Dojo, Google Classroom, and other interactive platforms that keep schools and families virtually connected, teachers used a letter or phone call. When it comes to the curriculum that’ll be taught in the classroom regarding Black history, Crim says, it’s time to go retro, to protect both the teacher and the student.
“Now it’s on us as educators because again, we have the power – not alone – but we have a big impact on impacting the future,” Crim says. “And if kids begin to learn the truth they know that that can ultimately change the power structure because when kids learn the truth they want the truth to be empowered.”
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