Community Voice: Incorporate Black Voices in School Curriculum Throughout the Year
The first-ever inaugural Juneteenth festival organized in the summer of 2021 by Summer Butler, a Berwyn resident. Local, black-owned businesses and artists were present with live musicians (Photo by Efrain Soriano).
By Summer Butler
The residents of Berwyn, both young and old, strongly request that School Districts 98, 100, and 201 organize a comprehensive Black History Month program or calendar of activities at their prospective level this year. I have been a resident of Berwyn for over 10 years, a parent for 16 years, and an educator in K-9 for over 20 years. I have interacted with school districts 100 and 201 over the years on many levels. I know that our school community is committed to the betterment of our students. However, Black history is not being taught in our schools. Racism is a problem as long as Black history isn’t taught. I have discussed this matter with several residents including students of the community and concluded that this request should be made. We request that the districts’ goal be to expand student understanding and hold a strong position in affirming that Black Lives Matter. We deserve an anti-racist education free from the influence of anti-Blackness. We need our schools to normalize people of color.
The residents of Berwyn understand that the intended purpose of Black History Month is to infuse Black history into a white-centered institution and give access to information to all with an insight to create a wider acceptance of diversity. Such information-spreading strategies help diverse populations to better understand underlying issues that Black residents and students experience. Black History Month is a form of restorative justice within a school institution that is systemically racist and that perpetually denies students the right to learn about their own culture and whitewashes the curriculum to exclude the struggles and contributions of Black people.
The consequence of centering white identities in curricula are racist actions in which every student is harmed. This leads to Black students being made to feel unsafe and unworthy in their own school, which should be a space for growth, development and a place that should be safe. Additionally, other students develop a false sense of superiority and continue to uphold and perpetuate white supremacist practices and beliefs. Berwyn is a perfect example of an idea of diversity. However, only having a diverse population of people does not make our community diverse in the full sense. These masks of normalcy are deceiving and harmful to our youth. Teaching Black history in schools will improve race relations and affect real change in our community. We are only at the first step in developing a healthy multiracial community.
Students as early as kindergarten learn about Martin Luther King and Rosa Parks in their classroom during January and possibly Black History Month, observed in February. That information gets recycled year after year with kids wondering if there’s anything more to Black history. Students have to rely on their own curiosity and research skills to discover anything more than that. Students shouldn’t have to learn so much on their own. Kids in our neighborhood are hoping they’ll get to learn about more than the same two people during Black History month this year. Schools must give Black history the context, depth, and meaning it deserves.
Make Black History Month meaningful and don’t limit it to February. It’s your opportunity to educate students about history, art, literature, math, and science involving Black voices and identities. Unfortunately, we haven’t seen our schools do much other than decorate halls or post pictures of Black people; it’s both demeaning and many times, a misappropriation of African culture. Consider incorporating Black voices into the curriculum throughout the year. Incorporate the book, Stamped: Racism, Antiracism & You by Jason Reynolds and Ibram X Kendi into your curriculum. Your students have lived through numerous killings of teenagers their own age and numerous incidents of racism that perpetuate the idea that a Black face equates to a criminal act or person. Cover race and ethnicity that includes Afro-Latinos and Afro-Mexicans. Incorporate the significance of HBCUs (Historically Black Colleges & Universities) into your college and career planning department. It is vital to remember why HBCUs were developed in the first place and what role they played in producing noteworthy people like Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall, American novelist Alice Walker, Producer Spike Lee, Activist/Politician Stacey Abrams, Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms, and VP Kamala Harris.
Administration also needs to deal with the use of the N-word at Berwyn schools. Watch Ta-Nehisi Coates explain its use for perspective or maybe open it up for discussion in the classroom. Many Black people, including those in Berwyn, choose not to use the word and have a problem with others using it. This is part of the problem with not addressing Black history, being dismissive to Black students and not putting corrective measures in place. We wish to see change in Black History Month 2022.
The above letter was first published in an open letter directed at school board members, superintendents and principals of schools in district 98 and 100 in Berwyn and district 201, which has schools in both Cicero and Berwyn. As of February 2nd, only the superintendent of district 98 in Berwyn had requested a meeting. You can view the original letter at this link.
Summer Butler is a self-proclaimed youth mentor and certified ESL teacher for over 20 years. Summer has co-written curriculum within several school districts and participated on the Leadership & Multi-Cultural Committee Boards at her school. She has been a resident and parent of a Berwyn school student since 2010. In 2021, she organized an inaugural Juneteenth UNITY Fest, the first culturally Black event in Berwyn.
Our “Community Voice” section gives Cicero and Berwyn residents an opportunity to share their thoughts, experiences and opinions. Information is fact-checked for accuracy. To contribute a “Community Voice” article email info@ciceroindependiente.com.
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