Black History IS American History. It should be taught in all schools all year long---both in schools and in our homes. Four of our white grandchildren who lived with us for up to ten years knew/know more about Black History than most of their classmates because I took the time and trouble to educate them about it. Our home is filled with art portraits of Black heroes. My Mexican husband and I also exposed them to Black History museums on vacations, and yearly celebrations like MLK Day, Juneteenth, and Kwanzaa. We took them yearly to ethnic festivals so they could learn about other cultures besides their own. We joined a Catholic church that was/is probably 95% Black parishioners in KCMO. My granddaughter and I sang in the gospel choir and she even sang some solos. She was the first and only white girl in the praise dance ministry, and she was/is beloved by our church family. The boys served Mass and one played the bongo drums---they are also loved by the people they might not have ever met without our taking the time to expand their horizons. They have been prepared to become antiracist adults who accept and work alongside people of all colors and ethnicities who don't look like them. It is not hard to teach children what the schools might not be teaching them. It just takes stepping out of carefully taught and/or self-imposed comfort zones that might hinder our children and grandchildren from knowing their neighbors---and choosing inclusion rather than exclusion of others who also are part of God's beloved one human family. Human diversity is God's gift to all of us. Let's not squander the opportunity to celebrate it as our Creator does.

"Love one another as I have loved you." God