African American History in Philly Schools

In June, public school students in Philadelphia received letters from the superintendent explaining what they would be expected to study in the coming year. This is an annual event, and especially important for incoming freshman because in their letters, the school will out-line their graduation requirements. This year the letter went a little like this: 3 courses in math, 4 courses in English, 3 courses in science, 3 courses in history and one course in African-American studies...African-American Studies? This is new.

Actually it's a year long course in African history and African-American history and starting with the class of 2009, to graduate from the Philadelphia Public School system you have to complete a year-long African and African American history course which talks about topics as diverse as the legacy of the Song-Hai people in Western Africa to the rise of Malcom X on the Upper West Side. Although these topics have been addressed in public schools in other countries like Sweden and Denmark, they have never been officially integrated into the curriculum of a whole public school system in the United States. During the first half of the 19th century, it was illegal to teach an enslaved black child to read or write. Even up to the 1960s, there were federal and state laws which back-handedly dictated that African-American history could not be taught in public schools.

While individual schools have integrated Black studies into their curriculum, standardized testing requirements make it hard to find the time for innovative and inspiring class material. But now Philadelphia is requiring that schools make time. And in a public school system where 65% of the population is African-American, the regulators and teachers who made this happen are hoping that these courses will instill a greater sense of connection with the material and eventually build high cultural esteem for the cultures from Africa.

But first things first, before we can analyze any repurcussions there must be classes. And before that, there has to be new curriculum. Rise Up Radio’s Sara Barz spoke with the man who designed the curriculum, Dr. Molefi Kete Asante, distnguished scholar and teacher of African-American Studies. He is a professor at Temple University in Philadelphia and is the author of over 60 books on African and African-American History.