By Glenn Singleton—February 24, 2025
There’s a movement happening right now—one that is working to erase, rewrite, and reframe Black history in America. From banning books to gutting school curriculums, we are witnessing a concerted effort to silence the truth about how this country came to be.
But here’s the thing: they can’t take our history away.
The Labor of Black America Built This Nation
This year, the Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH) has declared Black History Month’s theme: African Americans and Labor. From the forced labor of our ancestors to the economic and cultural contributions of Black workers, artists, and intellectuals, Black people have always been the backbone of this country.
America knows itself because of Black labor. We built the industries, fought the wars, invented the technologies, and created the art and culture that define this nation. Our hands laid the bricks, our voices created the movements, and our minds shaped the innovations that continue to propel this country forward.
The Fight to Erase Us
Yet, despite our undeniable impact, we are seeing a renewed push to erase our history. Textbooks are being rewritten to downplay the horrors of slavery. Educators are being silenced for teaching the realities of systemic racism. Books by Black authors are being banned under the guise of “protecting children.” The truth has become inconvenient for those upholding a false narrative of American history.
But history doesn’t disappear just because someone refuses to teach it. It lives in our stories and communities, as well as in our fights for justice.
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