CBC FORUM Your ideas on how to teach black history beyond Black History Month

Not everyone agrees with maintaining the month-long February tradition

By Haydn Watters, CBC News

Students sit next to each other on the actual bus where Rosa Parks, a black woman, refused to give up her seat to a white man 50 years ago in Alabama, during their school visit to Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn, Michigan. (Rebecca Cook/Reuters)
Students sit next to each other on the actual bus where Rosa Parks, a black woman, refused to give up her seat to a white man 50 years ago in Alabama, during their school visit to Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn, Michigan. (Rebecca Cook/Reuters)

February is Black History Month, a time to reflect, share and learn about the stories, experiences and accomplishments of Canada’s black community.

That means many educators will include the topic in their lesson plans.

But is that the best model?

CBC News posed the question this past week while looking at the month-long celebration. In the U.S., critics such as actor Morgan Freeman, argue that black history is part of his country’s entire history and shouldn’t be confined to just one month. Others say setting aside the month is important for education.

We gave you a chance to weigh in, asking: How should we teach black history beyond Black History Month? Should black history be taught during Black History Month only? Does the one-month focus on the topic help or hinder?

The discussion coincides with the special Being Black in Canada, airing today at 5 p.m. ET on CBC News Network. The program, hosted by CBC News’ Asha Tomlinson, looks at the history of black activism in this country. Tomlinson joined the forum to chime in, give insight and answer questions.

You replied via CBC Forum, our new experiment to encourage a different kind of discussion on our website. Here’s a few of the most insightful, intriguing and thoughtful comments from the discussion.

Click here to read the suggestion of the readers

4 Replies to “CBC FORUM Your ideas on how to teach black history beyond Black History Month”

  1. ben says:

    Le mois de l’histoire noir est important pour plusieurs raisons, pour exemple sa donne les jeunes de l’espoir. Les jeunes noir sont confronter avec beaucoup de problèmes relier aux racisme. Un de les plus gros problèmes est récemment avec les policiers. Les médias ont montré de nombreux exemples de racisme dans la force de police au Canada. Selon Statistique Canada il y avait 255 crimes haineux ciblant la population noir, en 2013 seulement. Beaucoup d’adolescents noirs ont probablement confronter quelque chose appelé cardage aussi. Le but des policer sont de protéger et aider les personne à cause de cela ils sont donner beaucoup de pouvoir. Mais pas tout les policiers utilise ce pouvoir correctement pour cette raison, beaucoup de gens noirs sont ciblés pour des accusations frivoles. Cette idée est en conformément avec la théorie de conflit. Avec le mois de l’histoire noir les jeunes noir a des personnes pour admirer comme un rôle modèle. Ils peuvent voir les incroyables choses qu’ils ont fait et aussi voir les choses iront mieux.

  2. tunnel rush says:

    Very good article, very impressive, very attractive reading. I really like and appreciate this article

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Your opinion on Black History Month

Black History Month is only celebrated in North America and in the UK. Do you think it should be celebrated all over the world?

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