Question

How should American schools teach about slavery in a way that is authentic, mindful of the past, and invites productive conversation about race and U.S. History moving forward?

Answer 1

History is written by the winners and those who dominated the society. This would mean the curriculum would have a one-sided story about slavery. It would project slavery as the heroic acts of the white people while project the others such as the African Americans and the Native Americans. This would mean that the government should change the curriculum in a way that it accepts the wrong doings of the forefathers of the white people had done on people of color, especially regarding the slavery. Secondly, government should bring out the importance of rectifying the wrong doings through various programmes that would strengthen the vulnerable population. Finally, government should also look into training the teachers who deliver the lessons to be sensitive about making the students understand the importance and impacts of the past thus, creating a win-win situation among the students from all the racial backgrounds. It should also initiate meaningful conversations and discussions that would help the students build a better perspective about the conflicts of the past.

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