John,

This Black History Month’s theme is Black resistance.

But on the first day of the month, the College Board changed its new AP African American Studies curriculum, including removing entire sections about Black resistance movements and Black Lives Matter.

This is an attempt to erase and whitewash Black history, and it aligns with what the radical-right wing Florida Governor called for when he announced he wouldn’t allow the course to be taught in the state.

In response to the Governor’s attempt to block the AP course, the president of the Association for the Study of African American Life and History (which founded Black History Month and helped come up with the AP course’s initial curriculum) said: “This is why we fight. This is why we resist.”

Please sign the petition now to tell Congress: Fund Black history education. Create grants to incentivize schools to teach about Black history and Black-led activism.

Across the country, we’re seeing right-wing officials try to censor what students can talk about in schools, including about race and systemic racism.

Let’s honor Black resistance -- the theme of this Black History Month -- by pushing back against racist, right-wing censorship and telling the truth about Black-led social movements.

Our children must learn the role of systemic racism and anti-Blackness in U.S. history, and how it continues to impact marginalized communities today. And they should learn about the essential ways that Black activists have changed our country and fought back against the unjust status quo.

Fortunately, Congress has the power to fund this vital education.

Please sign the petition now to tell Congress: Create grants to incentivize schools to teach about Black history and Black-led activism.

Thank you.

In solidarity,

Rashida

---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: Rashida Tlaib
Date: Thu, Feb 16, 2023
Subject: banning Black history during Black History Month?
To: [email protected]

John,

Black history is American history.

Across the country, radical right-wing elected officials are trying to whitewash American history and ban Black history from being taught in our classrooms -- including by banning books. This is fascist white supremacy.

In the past few years, efforts in 44 states have tried to limit education about race and systemic inequity. Florida has been a hotbed for this censorship as the Governor recently tried to block a new AP African American Studies course from being taught in the classroom.

On the first day of Black History Month, the College Board announced changes to the course’s curriculum, including removing entire sections about Black resistance movements and Black Lives Matter.

This is an attempt to erase Black history and Black activism, which is especially outrageous as we celebrate this Black History Month’s theme of Black Resistance.

Let’s honor Black resistance by pushing back against racist, right-wing censorship and telling the truth about Black-led social movements. Our children must learn the role of systemic racism and anti-Blackness in U.S. history, and how it continues to impact marginalized communities today. And Congress has the power to fund this vital education.

Please sign the petition now to tell Congress during Black History Month: Create grants to incentivize schools to teach students about Black history and Black-led activism.

In solidarity,

Rashida