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Thursday, February 1, 2018

Why Celebrate Black History Month?



This past Compton Unified School District Board of Trustees meeting, Board Members unanimously passed a resolution recognizing the month of February, 2018 as Black History Month. More importantly, the Board, through the Resolution, called on all schools to commemorate the month by incorporating in instructional activities, the recognition of the contributions of African Americans. 

But why do this EVERY year? Doesn’t Black History Month automatically take place every year in February? Why spend time on a formal resolution stating such?

The key lies in the word “resolved,” which in this context means “to declare.” The celebration and acknowledgement of the valuable contributions of African Americans throughout history, despite the struggles they had to face and the challenges they had to overcome, are absolutely important for us all to mark, to learn from and to DECLARE important to acknowledge.

This declaration prevents us from taking these contributions for granted and allowing them to fade off the pages of history. This declaration causes us to pay attention to black history in a way that will hopefully inspire us all to make our own unique and powerful impact in this world in spite of any challenges we may face.

This point is particularly poignant for Compton Unified School District, which has emerged from past struggles to now being a district where students are graduating and applying to college at historical rates; where students are using robotics to develop innovative solutions to world problems; where 21st CenturySkills are being taught by talented and passionate instructors, and where students have the opportunity to earn their high school and college diploma at the same time.

So yes, we must be resolved, be determined, to celebrate and commemorate Black History month…and we shall! There are activities happening throughout Compton Unified’s school campuses where the contributions of African Americans will be center-stage. I invite you to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube to celebrate with us and spread the word that Compton Unified School District is a district committed to celebrating the entirety of all cultures represented in the district.

I also invite you to join us in our resolve (language from CUSD Board of Trustees Resolution below) to recognize, honor and never forget:



“WHEREAS, Americans of African descent helped develop our nation in countless ways, those recognized, unrecognized and unrecorded;

WHEREAS, African-American history reflects a determined spirit of perseverance and cultural pride in its struggle to equally share in the opportunities of a nation founded upon the principles of freedom and liberty for all people;

WHEREAS, in 1976, Black History month was established as a month-long celebration to reflect on the history, teachings, and achievements of African-Americans;

WHEREAS, the history and contributions of African-American citizens have consistently been overlooked, misinterpreted, and undervalued in the curriculum of public education institutions prior to the Civil Rights Act of 1964; and

WHEREAS, the History-Social Science Framework for California Public Schools, Kindergarten Through Grade Twelve states that the history curriculum of community, state, region, nation, and world must reflect the experiences of men and women of different racial, religious, and ethnic groups and must be integrated at every level; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, that the Compton Unified School District’s Board of Trustees proclaims the month of February 2018 as African-American History Month and encourages all Compton Unified schools to commemorate this occasion with appropriate instructional activities.”