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A new Black studies curriculum has launched in New York City public schools despite the Trump administration's efforts to eliminate diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives and policies, per the New York Times.
After three years of development, Black Studies as the Study of the World is teaching New York students from pre-school to 12th grade about the contributions of people of African descent from the U.S. and the world.
The groundbreaking curriculum comes amid a surge in book bans and pushback against Critical Race Theory and the AP African American Studies course. Over 4,000 books have been banned across 23 states and 52 public school districts, according to the nonprofit organization PEN America. It also follows President Trump's executive order banning DEI in the federal government.
Lesson plans for Black Studies as the Study of the World include Kingdoms and Queendoms of Africa, African American Political Leadership, and Black New Yorkers.
"We use vehicles like collaborative conversation, researching, analyzing and looking at nonfiction," teacher Bongi Doughty said. "So it's not like we're doing anything different. We're just blending it in into the good practice we already have in our building."
The curriculum was created through a collaboration between educators from Teachers College, Columbia University, the New York City Council, and New York City public schools.
"This is a major paradigm shift in terms of how we think about the type of content we put in front of young students," Dr. Sony Douglass of Teachers College, Columbia University said. "It's an idea that is long overdue, and we are excited to be a part of history."
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