Tag: African American history

We Can Teach Black and LGBTQ History at the Same Time. In Fact, We Should.

My social media feeds were drenched with homophobia this week. People were saying how they really felt about my state, Illinois, joining other states mandating the teaching of LGBTQ history in schools.  And ignorance about the required teaching of African American history in schools made me feel like I was drowning in idiocy and hypocrisy. Hateful and disgusting questions infuriated me—like Fred Williams’ question…

DuSable Museum honors ‘Rising Star’ for character, resilience

Achievement isn’t always measured in academic prowess, when talking of teenagers navigating the under-resourced schools, fractured families, poverty and violence of Chicago’s inner city. It can be measured by character, resilience, determination. All are adjectives used to describe Hakeem Day, a 19-year-old who graduated last week from Simeon Career Academy and will be honored as a “Rising Star” by the…

This Far By Faith

“We’ve come this far by faith…” These are the first words of one of the great Negro spirituals that has been passed down through the African-American tradition. It is one of the songs that guided my predecessors through the tumultuous Civil Rights era. It harkens back to the deep darkness of American slavery and reminds us of the motivating force by which we overcame…