In the wake of the violence in Charlottesville, Virginia last weekend, two Michigan lawmakers are now calling on their colleagues to pass legislation that would mandate that African-American history be taught in Michigan schools.
State representatives Jeremy Moss of Southfield and Sherry Gay-Dagnogo of Detroit say education is the key to fighting bigotry. The Democrats introduced their bill (HB 4293) earlier this year.
They say given the violence at the white nationalist rally, now is the time for action. “Education is the key,” said Rep. Moss. “People often fear what they don’t understand, and comprehension cannot come without exposure. What happened Saturday was the result of a group of distinctly hateful people being allowed to continually peddle their perverted version of history to support their racist and anti-Semitic views. It is important that children learn early and often about what has happened historically when humans let hate and fear get the best of them.”
The lawmakers introduced similiar legislation last session that mandated the teaching of the holocaust in schools. That bill passed with strong bipartisan support and became Public Act 170 of 2016. Now the Democrats are pushing for a similar bill to mandate the teaching of Black History. “It is critical that our state’s children see the real horrors of racism and anti-Semitism,” said Rep. Gay-Dagnogo. “America has been down this road before, except the last time we were faced with this type of rhetoric and action, we were fighting against it. Inaction now is complicity. Ensuring that students learn unique perspectives and histories of those who may look or seem different than them is vital not only to developing their sense of empathy, but their conviction to fight injustice and prejudice. Students need to understand that this is not normal, this is not OK, and this is not a moral path our nation can afford to go down. Legislators on both sides of the aisle are united in standing against hate, and instead promoting learning and the understanding of our differences, as well as celebrating them as a state”.
House Bill 4293 is still in committee. Moss and Gay-Dagnogo want the bill to be passed quickly. WILX will continue to follow the story.
