BILL NUMBER: S7168
SPONSOR: CLEARE
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the education law, in relation to establishing the
commission on African American history and achievement
 
PURPOSE:
The commission shall develop and recommend curriculum that incorporates
the achievements made by African Americans as part of New York's educa-
tion curriculum including the woman's abolitionist movement, the Harlem
Renaissance, the Buffalo antislavery movement, the suffrage of African
American Long Islanders.
 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1 of the education law is amended by establishing a commission
on African American History and Achievement, the commission shall
consist of 13 members including The Commissioner of Education, the Chan-
cellors of NYC Department of Education, Chancellor of the State Univer-
sity of New York as well as the Chancellor of the Board of Regents. The
Governor, Speaker of the Assembly and Temporary President of the Senate
shall appoint three members each. The member shall receive reimbursement
for expenses but no salary. The members shall serve 3-year terms on the
commission. The State Education department shall provide technical
assistance. The commission shall submit annual reports on its findings
beginning August 1.2024. Provides that students in NYC shall visit
locations associated with African American History
 
JUSTIFICATION:
African-American history just as any other history of a group of people
in a country or a specific race is important and should go beyond a day,
or a month commemoration. A child in the United Sates both African-Amer-
ican and non- African-American should not have to wait until college
before they learn about the history of African-American people, who
happen to be a profound figure in the country. Moreover, not every child
in the US goes to college and even if they do, not every one of them
studies history or sociology where they will get the chance to learn
something about African-American history, which is an important part of
their country hence, the importance of every child from kindergarten to
twelve-grade learning about African-American history.
This idea of amending the education law instructing in African-American
history is necessary, and would help in the sense that; whatever young
people are exposed to from children goes a long way in shaping their
mind, and help them in making concrete decisions as they grow. Teaching
African-American history in K-12 will help expand young peoples' know-
ledge on contributions African-American people made and still make in
getting this country to where it is now. I believe the African-American
community has come very far from no voice at all, to making huge
contributions, and overcoming many setbacks, which is worth teaching. It
is not enough, to only talk of these contributions in just a month and
more likely forget it afterwards. Children needs to learn and appreciate
these contributions and achievements just as they learn'and appreciate
American history or global history. One may wonder, if African-American
people in United States are part of the US, then isn't American history
enough to teach children about African-American history? The US history
course taught in high schools does not delve as much into the history of
African-American people and it may not even be possible to infuse the
majority if not all African-American history with American history.
Thus, the need to have a component of African-American history in the
course instruction for K-12 children. Again, teaching these children
African-American history and culture in school will provide a good
opportunity in exploring the idea of race as social and political
construction. Many students see race as immutable, a fixed concept that
has rarely changed overtime. Many young people assume that because white
historically meant good and African-American is bad/evil, Europeans or
white people have always been biased against those of African descend
and racism is just an extension of ancient practices. Teaching young
people at an early age about the actual history of African-American
people can help reduce the many misconceptions surrounding African-Amer-
ican and white people and race, and can reduce the stereotypes young
people grow up adhering to. For instance, young people needs to know
that racial classification as a scientific concept is an 18th -century
invention and not just an ancient everlasting practice which nothing can
be done in regards to it.
Moreover, teaching school children on the history of African-American
people will help many of New York children appreciate African-American
historical events in New York. For instance, the creation of the center
for Abolitionists. By the year 1835, about 600 abolitionists gathered at
the Bleecker street Baptist church in Utica for the inaugural meeting of
the NYS Anti-Slavery Society. This meeting lead to the creation of the
Smithfield community center in Peterboro, which now houses the National
Abolition Hall of Fame and Museum.
Also, the hands-on-history "King Manor" in Jamaica, Queens is a museum
dedicated to preserve home and legacy of Rufus King. Having children
learn African-American history will help recall this unspoken opponent
of slavery. Another event worth knowing, which will be a part of what
will be taught should African-American history be incorporated in
schools is the 1800s meeting the people lead by African American newspa-
per editor and a major voice in abolition, Fredrick Douglass a resident
of Rochester. At the flight of freedom exhibit in Rochester Museum and
science center, interactive exhibits reveal his story along with those
of freedom seeking and former enslaved Africans including Austin
Steward, Harriet Jacobs and revered Thomas James.
 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
2017-18: S.5454-B/A.7192-A
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
Minimal
 
LOCAL FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
None
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.

Statutes affected:
S7168: 2590-h education law