Centering Africa
Revisiting U.S. and World History Lessons
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The story of the modern world described in most U.S. and world history textbooks, in chapters like “Three Worlds Meet” or “The Age of Exploration,” starts in the wrong place. According to Howard French, | |
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The first impetus for the Age of Discovery was not Europe’s yearning for ties with Asia, as so many of us were taught in grade school, but rather its centuries-old desire to forge trading ties with legendarily rich Black societies hidden away in the heart of ‘darkest’ West Africa. . . .
It would be unusual for a story that begins in the wrong place to arrive at the right conclusions.
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By starting the story in Africa, French hopes to combat a “centuries-long process of diminishment, trivialization, and erasure of African and people of African descent from the story of the modern world.” | |
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Join us on Monday, May 8. French will discuss Born in Blackness: Africa, Africans, and the Making of the Modern World, 1471 to WWII with Rethinking Schools editor Jesse Hagopian.
PD certificates and ASL provided. Register today.
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Kennesaw Educators
Host Radical Rosa Parks Symposium
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The Kennesaw #BlackTeachersMatter and Teaching for Black Lives study group hosted a “Rosa Parks: Activist, Advocate, Advisor” two-day event for undergraduate students and alumni.
The pre- and inservice teachers watched the documentary, The Rebellious Life of Mrs. Rosa Parks, and engaged in lessons from the teaching guide for the book and film. They also discussed the current political climate and how it impacts lessons like these in pre-K–12 and higher education.
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Pete Carroll Presents Award
Jesse Hagopian: Hero of the Deep
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At the Seattle Kraken hockey game on April 22, Seahawks coach Pete Carroll presented the Hero of the Deep award to ZEP staff member and Rethinking Schools editor Jesse Hagopian.
Carroll commended Jesse for “leading the charge all over the country for racial justice in our schools and with our teachers, inspiring not only teachers but students and all of us to do this great work.” He added, “Because the real truth has got to be told about Black history.”
The award for Jesse Hagopian is accompanied by a donation from the One Roof Foundation of $32,000 for our Teaching for Black Lives campaign.
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New Rethinking Schools Issue
Teach Climate Justice
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Teach Truth Day of Action
Sign Up to Host an Event
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Wednesday, May 10 Teach Truth Day of Action Planning Workshop An interactive, one-hour orientation to resources and strategies (including media) for anyone interested in hosting a Teach Truth Day of Action on June 10. Learn from event organizers and people planning events around the country. 4:00 pm PT / 7:00 pm ET. Register.
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Saturday, June 10 Teach Truth Day of Action One of the best ways to counter the attacks by the right is to make our voices heard. The media has provided oversized coverage of anti-CRT narratives. Let’s give them a different story to tell. It is easy — pick a site (historic, a library, or any public space), invite people to join you, and speak out. You can read pledges, do a book swap, take photos with a Teach Banned Books frame, etc. Any size of group from 1 to 100+ makes a difference.
The Zinn Education Project has more than 30 co-sponsors to help with outreach and local media. ZEP can also send Teach Banned Books buttons and a Teach Banned Books display. We invite everyone reading this e-news to host a #TeachTruth event on June 10. Sign up
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Spotlight
Prentiss Charney Fellow
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The Zinn Education Project hosts the Prentiss Charney Fellowship to support a cohort of people’s history educator leaders to study, learn, and organize. Today we celebrate fellow Elizabeth Williams Wesley, a Philadelphia high school teacher. | |
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Elizabeth is an activist, organizer, Pan-Africanist, school leader, educator, mentor, equity practitioner, student, mother, wife, sister, daughter, world traveler, and basketball coach who enjoys gardening in her spare time.
At Central High School her primary role is Director of Equity and Inclusion; she has also taught African American History and an AP Seminar course with African Diaspora content, sponsored the Black Student Coalition, and coached girls varsity basketball. Continue reading.
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We are lucky to teach, learn, and organize alongside Elizabeth and all the Prentiss Charney Fellows.
Consider a donation to continue and expand the fellowship in honor of classroom education activist and union leader Michael Charney and leading education lawmaker in Ohio, C. J. Prentiss.
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Teachers are under attack for teaching truthfully about U.S. history. Please donate so that we can continue to offer free people’s history lessons and resources, and defend teachers’ right to use them. | | | | |
