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The History Class They Don't Teach

As Coates devotes much of this next reading to the breakdown of the education system, I could not help but agree with him. Much of the history that is taught is selected with a strong filter that would enhance the image of the great "American Dream." The massacre of Natives and theft of their land is not deemed as such but is rather called a war; as if it was the Natives fault that they defended their homes. I have no idea what an inner city educational institution is like. From what Coates writes, it sounds like the system is completely built to destroy those that are unfortunate enough to be born in the system. It sounds desolate. It sounds completely hopeless. I pains me to think that these young men and women see the world as only having two paths: school, an instution of perceived deception, or the streets.

Coates thoughts on Malcom X and the Black Panther movement is actually quite stunning to me. The stark pragmatism sheds a whole new light on the views of Coates. I find that the physical world is the only thing that applies to his thinking. There is no hope in a god, but rather a hope in the physical self. There is no hope in a community, but rather a hope in the overwhelming and violent destruction of any and all perceived obstructions. It saddens me to see that his perspective has been shaped to reject the notion that there even is a savior, that there is a God. Regardless of this, I can see the formation of this though process in the personal history that he writes. While it does make me wary of his full ideology, I can firmly say that I see where his perspective comes from.


Comments

  1. Abby SmithSeptember 28, 2017 at 9:57 PM

    It makes my heart hurt knowing that this was what I was taught in school. Although they may not have created the education systems like this purposely, they still affect some people. I think a big part of the problem is the people in the education systems not understanding that there is a problem. Without them understanding there is a problem, it won't be fixed.

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  2. Tara BoerOctober 3, 2017 at 10:02 AM

    I'm happy to see your ability to see how his worldview and ideology is explained through is experiences and messages received from the world. This leaves us in a place of humility and a good position to walk alongside and be in relationship with those that see the world differently than we do. Good reference to institutional racism/discrimination when reflecting on his educational experiences.

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