Harper Supports Resolution to Increase Black History Courses in Illinois’ Schools

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – In an effort to analyze, determine and expand black history courses and units being taught in all of Illinois’ schools, state Rep. Sonya Harper, D-Chicago, supported a resolution that creates a task force to report on current teachings and how to better include black history in future classes.

“African Americans have made tremendous sacrifices for the betterment of this nation, which cannot be left out or silenced in the teachings of our history,” said Harper. “This is American history that every student should be aware of, along with other historical aspects of Illinois and America, to have a diversified learning experience.”

Harper supported House Resolution 1098, which creates and empowers the Black History Curriculum Task Force to audit all courses and classes on black history. The task force will have a layered review process to determine the extent to which black history is being taught in school districts, standardized tests that include black history and the Illinois State Board of Education’s stance on black history. Harper hopes that this task force will make black history a more prominent part of the history curriculum. This resolution was adopted unanimously by the Illinois House of Representatives last month, and the task force’s reports are required to be submitted in Jan. 2019.

“Martin Luther King, Jr., Harriet Tubman, Rosa Parks and Barack Obama, to name a few inspiring African American leaders, have taught us to fight on and persist to solidify our standing in our collective history,” said Harper. “It would be foolish to neglect the study of these great people who might have equally inspiring stories to tell our next great leader.”

Harper represents the 6th District, which includes all or portions of Armour Square, Bridgeport, Chicago Lawn, Englewood, Gage Park, Back of the Yards, Canaryville, New City, West Englewood, Marquette Park, South Loop and River North.