African Americans as Heroes in the American Revolution Represented in Texas Curriculum and Children's Literature

• In Event: Millennium Hotel Roundtable Session 3
  In Roundtable Session: Histories and Futurities of Language and Literacies

Abstract

Texas curriculum and children’s literature are missing vital parts of our cultural background and history, which affect meaning for our students and cultural identity. This absence may not by noticed by our children, but the long-term effects are far-reaching. This study analyzes the representation of individuals from African American descent within the 5th grade Social Studies Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills, which is the required curriculum in the State of Texas. The study will show that there is an absence of historical figures of African American descent noted in the curriculum which effects not only the historical understanding of the individuals who supported the efforts of the American Revolution, but also effects student’s cultural identify.

Author

• Judy A Schaffer-Rose, Texas Tech University