As Black History Month ends this year, I am drawn to a quote by James Baldwin: “It is certain, in any case, that ignorance, allied with power, is the most ferocious enemy justice can have.”
When we examine this quote through the lens of education, we can’t help but be confronted by the movement in many states throughout the country to favor patriotic education over one that is racially conscious. The movement that is afoot to oppose diverse education curriculums such as the New York Times The 1619 Project and ban books such as Maus, a graphic novel about the Holocaust, deeply aligns with the sentiment of Baldwin’s quote.
On its face, patriotic education seems innocuous and there’s certainly nothing wrong with patriotism, in and of itself. But some historians suggest it has become code for teachings that omit or minimize important parts of history, so as to not make others in our midst uncomfortable with the unpleasant parts of the nation’s history. It is said, schools are a microcosm of what we see in the world and the past lives in the present.
Education supporters have always borne the responsibility of speaking truth to power when that power is used as a tool that threatens truth and justice. Brown vs. the Board of Education; Ruby Bridges, Leona Tate, Gail Etienne, and Tessie Prevost and their courageous acts to desegregate a New Orleans school; Jane Elliot and her blue eyed/brown eyed experiment, exemplify the various forms conscientious objection has taken over the years.
Our work continues today through the efforts of educators, parents, youth, and stakeholders at all levels working to develop and sustain culturally responsive educational frameworks. Culturally responsive leaders know and trust that embracing our history means understanding all of our history, the good, the bad, and the ugly; not to find fault or assign blame, but to truly learn from our mistakes and teach them so we don’t repeat them, to help make the world a better place for all of us.
The role of public education is essential to moving our nation forward with the development of systems and institutions that are just and equitable for all. Denying students, the full history of our nation’s past only fosters ignorance, which is “the most ferocious enemy justice can have.”