Legislation calling for the teaching of Black history and heritage goes before the Rhode Island House next week and is expected to win passage. The bill, sponsored by state Rep. Anastasia Williams, D-Providence, has the backing of House Speaker K. Joseph Shekarchi and House Finance Chairman Marvin Abney. The legislation is the culmination of six years of work by the 1696 Historical Commission, led by Secretary of State Nellie Gorbea in partnership with the Rhode Island Black Heritage Society, Rhode Island College, the Rhode Island Historical Society and the Newport Historical Society. The commission submitted a report to the General Assembly and Gov. Gina Raimondo. Since then, a task force has been assembling the historical and educational materials to build a curriculum.