RACISM + EDUCATION
Why Some Students Need Special Permission to Learn Black History
It's absurd, but in many states, black history is a taboo subject
Typically, when a teacher sends a student home with a permission slip, they do so in preparation for a class field trip. Maybe the school is planning a fun, educational journey to a local art museum, the zoo, or the aquarium. They may need spending money, a packed lunch, or more chaperones for the day. However, some permission slips are much less thrilling, like the one Chuck Walter, a Florida parent, received. The Miami-Dade County Public School District sent a permission slip home for students to "participate and listen to a book written by an African American." And in doing so, they illustrated a clear-cut example of racism in our educational system. No permission slip is needed when students are introduced to books written by White authors throughout the school year. But, suddenly, when work by a Black author was introduced, the school sought special permission. What's happening here?
Sadly, in the state of Florida and other states that passed legislation restricting discussions about race and racism, black history has become taboo. That's how we've reached this cultural moment where some parents must sign a permission slip if they want their…
