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I was talking to someone the other day when I found out she lives in Colorado Springs, Colorado. During the conversation I asked if she lived in Colorado Springs during the time Ron Stallworth became the first African-American detective at CSPD and whose police work was the subject of the movie
Blackkklansman.
You probably remember the award winning movie was directed by Spike Lee. He obtained the rights to Stallworth’s book and made it into an award-winning movie because it was Stallworth who infiltrated the KuKluxKlan white supremacist group and was instrumental in dismantling some of its national and state level power structure in Colorado.
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February is designated Black History Month in the United States, basically a recognition of Black People’s contributions to America. The month-long commemoration, created by Black historian Carter G. Woodson, started as one week to coincide with the birthdays of both President Abraham Lincoln and Abolitionist African American Frederick Douglas, born February 12th and 14th, respectively. Celebrated since 1926, the month was made “official” 50 years later by President Gerald Ford in 1976. Since then, events are held nationwide by Blacks and for Blacks with still some pushback against the idea. Why? The contributions of Blacks to the building of America are still not valued by many. “Black Diaspora Voices”, a FB platform administered by jurists and activists Fatmata Barrie, JoJo Baron and Tamika BW posted about the Maria Montessori Academy in Utah, that actually offered parents an “opt-out” from Black History Month school activities. The op
Michael Hansen: Diversity in education benefits white and Black students alike
Utah students need to learn to navigate an increasingly diverse society.
(Ben Dorger | Standard-Examiner via AP)
Maria Montessori Academy, a public charter school in North Ogden, Utah, is pictured on Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2019. Parents who sought to opt out their children from learning Black History Month curriculum at the charter school have withdrawn their requests. The Standard-Examiner reported that the academy experienced a public backlash after announcing plans to make participation optional.
By Michael Hansen | Special to The Tribune
| Feb. 15, 2021, 6:00 p.m.
Last week, commotion broke out in North Ogden over Maria Montessori Academy’s decision allowing parents to opt out of a social studies unit spotlighting Black History Month. School director Micah Hirokawa “reluctantly” made this concession, yielding to parental pressure for exemption from the curriculum.
Andrea K. McDaniels
Baltimore Sun
Some parents at a Utah charter school were so against their kids learning about Black history this month that the school recently offered an opt-out option from such lessons.
The Maria Montessori Academy in North Ogden has since reversed its decision to allow some children to skip Black History Month lessons and festivities as the school “works to change hearts and minds with grace and courtesy,” school director Micah Hirokawa wrote in a Facebook post addressing the issue.
But why were these close-minded parents ever allowed to dismiss a vital learning moment? Black history is as important as math, English or American history. It is not some throwaway subject people can do without. What exactly were these parents so offended by that they needed to be handled with such sensitivity and felt the need to protect their children? It’s unclear if the parents were against the events or the way the history was being taught. The school isn’t disclo