As we get "assigned" the readings for the Zinn book, I think I can speak for the class when I say that, I am completely shocked. Well for the most part. I say for the most part because some of this had been covered through some of my history courses taken in the past. But nevertheless Zinn expresses history through a whole different perspective.
As I read Zinn and as we discuss in class about taking on perspectives and knowing about who is telling us our history I can't help about a recent event that impacted me personally and others in the community.
A couple months ago, those in charge of what the public education's text books presented were stuck in a dilemma. They had chosen to expel some significant components from the history textbooks that teachers would HAVE to use and districts HAVE to make MANDATORY. Significant figures like Cesar Chavez and Malcolm X would be taken out of the text and in response out of the curriculum. These significant figures are as important for a minority student to learn as any other student. Why take away from the U.S. history? Should this be considered lying? Is this a social problem?
"Is this a social problem?" the question asked by our guest speaker this past week and a very important question in a broad variety of issues. What we consider social injustice is in the eye of the beholder, and in my eyes the above topic is definitely a social problem.
Zinn in many ways has made me not only a more intense critical thinker but also a more open minded being.
-I leave you with your thoughts...
Irene,
ReplyDeleteWhile most people would like to think that racism no longer exists, it is and perhaps to some degree will always exist. Is it a social problem? Probably to us little people who have no say in how things are actually done. In Arizona, for instance, they recently passed a law to take any ethnic studies classes out of the curricullum. How's that for making sure that the next generation of people are not told the stories of Native, Mexican, or African American struggles in the U.S.? Well, good blog, just wanted to add a little fuel to the fire....
See you soon!