Pulitzer Prize winner Nikole Hannah-Jones and Jelani Cobb discuss the growing restrictions on teaching black history in schools. They tackle the debate on patriotism in education standards, the challenges of balancing historical accuracy, and the impact of political interference on academic freedom. The conversation dives into the dangers of banning curriculum and controlling ideas, emphasizing the importance of preserving intellectual freedom in society.
Restrictions on teaching black history in schools aim to control the narrative by emphasizing only positive aspects of American history.
Media plays a critical role in countering attacks on black history by exposing misinformation and biases in education narratives.
Deep dives
Backlash Against Black History Teaching
There is a growing backlash against the teaching of black history in American schools, with numerous states proposing measures to restrict the teaching of race and racism. For instance, Florida's new state history standards suggest that enslaved people may have benefited from slavery. This pushback includes book bans and controversial education standards, such as Florida's 'Stop Woke Act', which forces changes in education standards.
Narratives and Attacks on Black History
Media narratives play a crucial role in perpetuating or countering attacks on black history, like the battle over critical race theory. Journalists have sometimes legitimized propaganda campaigns due to a desire to appear balanced. Some solid reporting, such as Nicole Carr's work at ProPublica, has exposed misinformation and biases in narratives surrounding black history education.
Academic Freedom and Challenges in Universities
Challenges to teaching black history extend to universities, with pressures on academic freedom and tenure becoming increasingly political. Some universities face a brain drain as academics avoid institutions facing restrictions on certain teachings. Instances like the tenure block at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, showcase the impact of political interference in academia on freedom of inquiry and education.
Across much of the country, Republican officials are reaching into K-12 classrooms and universities alike to exert control over what can be taught. In Florida, Texas, and many other states, laws now restrict teaching historical facts about race and racism. Book challenges and bans are surging. Public universities are seeing political meddling in the tenure process. Advocates of these measures say, in effect, that education must emphasize only the positive aspects of American history. Nikole Hannah-Jones, the New York TimesMagazine reporter who developed the 1619 Project, and Jelani Cobb, the dean of the Columbia University School of Journalism, talk with David Remnick about the changing climate for intellectual freedom. “I just think it’s rich,” Hannah-Jones says, “that the people who say they are opposing indoctrination are in fact saying that curricula must be patriotic.” She adds, “You don’t ban books, you don’t ban curriculum, you don’t ban the teaching of ideas, just to do it. You do it to control what we are able to understand and think about and imagine for our society.”