This Black History Month theme from Carter G. Woodson’s Association for the Study of African American Life and History is “The Crisis in Black Education.” The Executive Summary follows:
The problem of educational inequality has a long history in America. The crisis in black education first began in the days of slavery when it was unlawful for slaves to learn to read and write. In pre-Civil War northern cities, free blacks were forced as children to walk long distances past white schools on their way to the one school relegated solely to them. Whether by laws, policies, or practices, racially separated schools remained the norm in America from the late nineteenth century well into our own time.
Throughout the last quarter of the twentieth century and continuing today, the crisis in black education has grown significantly in urban neighborhoods where public schools lack resources, endure overcrowding, exhibit a racial achievement gap, and confront policies that fail to deliver substantive opportunities. The touted benefits of education remain elusive to many blacks of all ages. Tragically, some poorly performing schools serve as pipelines to prison for youths.
Yet, African American history is rich in centuries-old efforts of resistance to this crisis: the slaves’ surreptitious endeavors to learn; the rise of black colleges and universities after the Civil War; unrelenting battles in the courts; the black history movement; the freedom schools of the 1960s; and local community-based academic and mentorship programs that inspire a love of learning and thirst for achievement. Addressing the crisis in black education should be considered one of the most important goals in America’s past, present, and future.
One of the ways that we can all help to improve the education of our children is by reading aloud to them every day. The National Commission on Reading states that “the single most important activity for building the knowledge required for eventual success in reading is reading aloud to children.” Research shows that reading daily to young children, starting in infancy, can help with language acquisition and literacy skills.
To help support this endeavor, Pasadena libraries have many story times around the city that will help towards this journey. Visit this website for storytime hours and locations: Pasadena Library Story Times.
Chocolate Storytime 