LANSING, Mich., Feb. 26, 2021 — State Rep. Tenisha Yancey (D-Harper Woods) introduced House Bill 4412 this week to establish a commission of experts to create a comprehensive African American History curriculum and require it to be taught as part of a standard K-12 education.
“Ending the segregation of American History in our schools is long overdue,” Yancey said. “The people and events we highlight, define what it is to be American and by excluding or limiting the appearance of African Americans in the curriculum we tell our children, that some people are more or less American than others. Black children and families are no strangers to learning about their history outside of school but that robs them of the legitimacy granted by formal education and their fellow students of the richness and fullness of the American story.”
The bill also seeks to prevent misinformation and inaccurate or fictional accounts from being taught in lieu of actual history. By establishing a commission of experts to prepare the curriculum, parents, teachers and students can be assured of the quality and accuracy of the lesson plans. HB 4412 was referred to the Education Committee and is awaiting a hearing.