As we examine legacies of commemoration and ongoing discussions centered around Black History Month, we’re featuring a collection of speeches presented at the “Heritage for New America” public forum, funded by the Mississippi Committee for the Humanities (now the Mississippi Humanities Council) at Jackson State in February 1980.
The forum was centered around the question, “Should the state of Mississippi require that all students, K-12 be taught Afro-American History?” The speeches—given by scholars, educators, and the directors of cultural institutes—ranged from practical approaches regarding curriculum implementation to the philosophical and cultural importances of teaching Black History.
Dr. Alferdteen Harrison, former director of the Institute for the Study of the History, Life, and Culture of Black People (now the Margaret Walker Center), served as the forum’s project director. Her introduction to the collection leaves us with a call to action that is still applicable today: “Hopefully this reproduction of these speeches will reach a larger audience and continue to generate more discussions on the questions raised by the forum.”
Help us fulfill this goal by viewing the PDFs below and reading some of the speeches! Then, head to our social media to share your reflections and impressions.