We Will Not Be Erased": Educators Defend African American History Amid Political Pushback

May 16, 2025

As political debates rage across the country over what should—and shouldn't—be taught in schools, educators are standing firm on one essential truth: teaching African American history is not optional. It is vital.

Despite legislative efforts in several states to limit or ban discussions of race, slavery, and systemic inequality in classrooms, teachers, historians, and community leaders argue that understanding African American history is critical to understanding the broader story of America.

“African American history is not a footnote,” says Dr. Leslie Owens, a high school history teacher in Atlanta, Georgia. “It is woven into every corner of American life—our economy, politics, culture, and struggle for justice.”

The teaching of African American history goes beyond the familiar names of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Rosa Parks, or Harriet Tubman. It includes the stories of enslaved people who resisted bondage, Black entrepreneurs who built communities amid Jim Crow segregation, artists and musicians who transformed global culture, and everyday citizens who fought for the right to vote.

In recent years, however, the political landscape has shifted. Dozens of school districts and state legislatures have proposed or passed restrictions on how race and history can be taught in classrooms. Proponents argue these measures protect students from “divisive concepts,” but many educators say the laws promote historical erasure.

“Silencing the truth doesn't heal wounds—it deepens them,” says Rachel Simmons, an AP U.S. History teacher in Texas. “Students want honesty. They want to know why our systems work the way they do and how they can make change.”

Despite increasing pressure, many educators are finding creative ways to maintain the integrity of their lessons. They are incorporating primary sources, oral histories, and local community narratives into their curricula. Organizations like the Zinn Education Project and the Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH) provide resources and professional support for teachers navigating new restrictions.

“We teach history not to assign guilt, but to foster empathy and understanding,” says Dr. Marcus Bell, a curriculum director in North Carolina. “When students learn about Black history, they’re learning about American perseverance, innovation, and the constant demand for justice.”

This fight is about more than lesson plans. It’s about identity, memory, and the future of democratic education