Introducing the William F. Spivey History Channel For Children
A Tool For Parents to Discuss Sensitive Issues With Their Kids
Welcome to the William F. Spivey History Channel for Children. This newsletter will cover many of the topics covered in the William F. Spivey History Channel but will contain fewer graphic descriptions and photos, along with biographies and quizzes.
I will be writing with my 11–13-year-old grandchildren in mind. The three of them have extensive vocabularies and are very inquisitive. Older children shouldn’t feel bored or that the material is for younger kids.
I didn’t label this as Black history because, for the most part, it’s American history with a focus on people of multiple races and ethnicities. Other countries, including Haiti, Africa, European nations, and the Caribbean, often enter the discussion.
The goal isn’t to make children angry or feel guilty. It’s to widen knowledge and, in some cases, to correct what’s been taught in school textbooks. I’m most familiar with Florida and Texas schools, where they minimize some experiences and highlight others. They might celebrate the first Black person to accomplish something without sharing what barriers they had to overcome. They teach “natural increase” or “natural reproduction” when nothing about the…
