Teaching civil rights legacy through song
Darren Iozia, darren.iozia@myjournalcourier.com
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Wanda Howard Battle, tour director at the church where Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. once preached, sings while giving tours and teaching about King’s legacy.Provided
Wanda Howard Battle, who spoke at Illinois College on Feb. 16, feels blessed that she has the talent of singing while giving tours at Dexter Avenue King Memorial Baptist Church in Montgomery, Alabama where Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.preached from 1954 to 1960.
“When visitors sing, we sing songs of freedom,” Battle said Friday.
Battle is tour director at Memorial Church and said she tours people from all over the world from all types of cultures.
In Utah, The Maria Montessori Academy, a charter school in North Ogden, allowed parents to simply opt their students out of a Black history curriculum with the simple signing of a form. It was only after backlash that the school reversed course and expressed regret about the opt-out form.
A Texas school district reversed their decision to remove parts of a Black History Month display after the move sparked outrage . The Beaumont Independent School District deemed photos of the 1968 Olympic power salute at Vincent Middle School too political after the school received a complaint.
In Tennessee, a middle school principal apologized after announcing that “All Lives Matter” would be the school’s Black History Month theme.
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February 24, 2021
Terri L. Batch, Senior International Trade Specialist, U.S. Commercial Service, International Trade Administration
Black History Month is a time of reflection and celebration. We celebrate the contributions and accomplishments of African Americans throughout the world. It is an opportunity for us to tell the stories that enlighten us about our past and inspire the next generation.
As a lifelong public servant, I recognize that the work that I am privileged to do was not always accessible to African Americans. In telling my story, I honor all those who came before me with their courage to sacrifice that enabled me to live the life and career that I enjoy today. My story includes my biological and church family, professors, mentors, colleagues, and so many others who have helped me along my path. I acknowledge my ancestors, my husband and two daughters, and the countless people within my sphere of influence. As Maya Angelou so eloquently stated,
Oversimplifying Black history: What schools do wrong - TheGrio thegrio.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from thegrio.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.