The Association for Teaching Black History in Kentucky is housed on Berea College’s campus in the Carter G. Woodson Center for Interracial Education.
But who was Carter G. Woodson?
The “Father of Black History” was born on December 19, 1875 in New Canton, Virginia. He was born to formerly enslaved parents, and took up work in the coal mines to help support his family. He attended Berea College, and ultimately earned his PhD from Harvard University. He was only the second African American to accomplish this achievement. In 1915 he assisted in founding the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History, which is today called the Association for the Study of African American Life and History. He founded Negro History and Literature Week in 1924, which will later become Black History Month. He has published numerous impactful works including “The Education of the Negro Prior to 1861”, “A Century of Negro Migration”, “The Negro in Our History”, and “The Mis-Education of the Negro” These works are still studied by many. More information on Woodson can be found in this short biography: https://www.britannica.com/biography/Carter-G-Woodson His works can also be purchased through Amazon here: https://www.amazon.com/s?k=carter+g+woodson&crid=S38WLMEKZ7JA&sprefix=carter+g+woodso%2Caps%2C86&ref=nb_sb_noss_2 Carter G. Woodson not only left his mark on history, but he changed the narrative when it comes to interracial education in classrooms as well.
And what is Berea’s connection to interracial education?
Our governing Board member, Berea College, was founded on interracial education. But interracial education not only means “educating Blacks and Whites in the same environment”. It also means achieving “progress” together. Berea College has stated that “the education of black and white people together for the benefit of their learning (both inside and outside the classroom), their understanding of one another, and the reconciliation of the breach in our lives caused by slavery, institutional racism, and the resulting personal prejudices found in both black and white communities”. Information on Berea’s interracial education can be found in this essay here: Essay Intro and Stage One – Berea College and Interracial Education: The First 150 Years – Library Homepage at Berea College Berea College maintains its dedication to anti-racism and interracial education, and is home to a timeline of Carter G. Woodson and Berea’s history of racial issues. The Carter G. Woodson Center also serves as a hub for multicultural events on campus. Next door to the center is the Black Cultural Center, a space for Black students on campus that includes a vending machine dedicated to Black hair care products. Within this same building is where the Association for Teaching Black History is housed. There are also multiple extracurricular organizations where Black students can come to feel embraced by their community on campus. In addition to these tangible resources, Berea’s Fifth “Great Commitment” is dedicated to interracial education, and interracial education is a big part of Berea’s ideological foundation. The commitments can be viewed here: The Great Commitments – Berea College Carter G. Woodson and his legacy are a large part of that. Berea College can largely serve as a model for other schools when it comes to interracial education.
How do we apply Woodson’s ideas on interracial education to our classrooms today?
Woodson famously said “There would be no lynching, if it did not start in the schoolroom”, bringing attention to the way that harmful racial and historical education negatively impact the day-to-day lives of people of color. Woodson’s words are still true today. In a recent wave of “anti-CRT” legislature, and the persistent problem of racism in this country, anti-racist teaching and interracial learning are not only needed, they are imperative. As educators we must be dedicated to anti-racist teaching and interracial learning in our classrooms. We need to not only avoid teaching hate and pseudo-historical stereotypes, but we need to be dedicated to teaching true black history, making our Black students feel represented, teaching appreciation for Blackness and Black History. All students should feel seen and feel comfortable coming together in our classrooms as we achieve progress together. Carter G. Woodson and Berea College are instrumental in this goal.