Pulled From Social Media- Hoboken School District and Black History Month

Peter Carter
Hoboken Superintendent
2009-2011

The following is a reflection on Black History Month (BHM) in the Hoboken Public School District. Some of the reflection centers on a video shown at a meeting. We will try to obtain the video soon. But in the meantime, this reflection by a concerned citizen of color and parent of a former Hoboken District student is presented for review.

#hobokenpublicschools
#blackhistorymonth

Three takeaways
1.) The entire BHM video was about celebrating why the district isn’t afraid to celebrate BHM instead of actually celebrating Black History Month
The main theme that kept repeating itself in the BHM video was, “We aren’t afraid to celebrate Black History Month” while showing video clips of the segregated elementary school. Huh? What is the district afraid of? What kind of message does that send to Black children and their families? Do they understand that Black History Month is celebrating American History too?

2.) They didn’t celebrate anyone Black beyond the most known Black leaders and issues to non- Black people. Basically, it was the cliff notes version of Black History. So they went from an “All Lives Matter” Black History Month sign from last year to a let’s do the minimal work. This is what happens when the district refuses to recruit, hire, and retain Black teachers.

3.) Clearly Dr. Johnson and many of the teaching staff have never ever acknowledged, taught, or considered Black history as American History or had to ever consider Black American students in their school communities. Some of these people have been in education close to 3 decades and this is the first time they’ve actually had to recognize Black Americans but they couldn’t help but to recognize themselves. This is 2019 in a district with a considerable number of Black children whom can’t go anywhere else but this public school!

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