Council Member Joseph on requiring African descent history instruction in schools

Wonderful.

Thank you, Deputy Speaker Williams.

I'm proud to support this resolution calling on the New York State Legislature to amend the education law to require instruction in our schools on the history, contributions, and experiences of people of African descent.

Our classrooms should reflect the rich diversity of our communities.

They serve.

Teaching the history and contributions of African descent is not an addition to American history.

It is an essential part of it.

From science and the arts to civic leadership, labor, education, and the ongoing fight for justice, these stories have shaped our nation and deserve to be taught with the depth and

and accuracy they warrant.

As an educator, I know that students thrive when they see themselves reflected in the curriculum and when they are given the opportunity to learn a full shared of their history.

An inclusive education fosters critical thinking, strengthens cultural understandings, and prepares young people to become engaged and informed citizens.

This resolution is an important step toward ensuring that our education system tells a more complete and truthful story, one that honors the resilience, achievement, and enduring impact of African descent.

Thank you, Deputy Speaker.

Thank you.

And finally, let me ask Councilmember Maloney to talk about her remarks.