I would consider what you're referring to as 'whitewashing' to be
considered 'age appropriate' -or at least a need to separate the two
somewhat.
Intellectually and psychologically, fourth-graders are not at the
developmental stage that would allow them to gain a full (or for some, even
partial) understanding/concept of slavery. For this age group and especially for
students that are just being 'introduced' to slavery, we may be able to provoke
a level thought and that which may be expanded on at a later time.
We don't teach a child their ABC's by showing them an adult-level book and
expecting them to learn from the small print. Nor do I think teaching slavery
should be colorful and fun and to always have a happy ending.
In regards to the juvenile books you refer to - you state that we
"would assume that every fleeing slave 'made it to freedom'", and I wasn't sure
if that you meant that as an adult reading this - we could make
that assumption - or that a child reading these books could/would
make that assumption? There's a difference here. But if this is what a young
adult is being led to believe and it is inaccurate -this is not right!
By the fourth grade we know that we can't attempt to fully protect our
children from the horrors of the past and present. They are still only capable
of forming constructs in their minds in order to interpret what they are
learning -at a developmental age-appropriate level.
In answer to your question I would have to say that yes, it is right to
'whitewash' it. And it's important and sometimes difficult to separate what we
have now learned and know as adults, from that which children will learn as they
get. But if the info is inaccurate to begin with...that is not right to present
this. And then we have to ask - what you are concerned about and are
asking.
I still have so much to learn, and it's so important to continue to ask
questions. Last year I brought a friend and her two young daughters to a museum
that had an exhibit on the Amistad. She is Jamaican-American and as long as I
have known her (24 years), although we have discussed racial and discrimination
issues, I never thought to ask her if she had any descendants whom were slaves.
And from her I learned more about how she identified herself as a
Jamaican-American together with and apart from Africa-American people
and experiences.
I'm glad you asked this and brought this up because it allows me to give
more thought to my work. Although the museum I've been working in doesn't
'deal' directly with slavery and the underground railroad, the racial issues
that were part of the Civilian Conservation Corps is an important part of
American history.
Five years ago, when I attempted to have a CCC Camp site designated as part
of the Freedom Trail, I was terribly ignored and practically laughed at (because
the program was still mostly 'white', etc). Every chance I have I make the
opportunity and take the opportunity to learn about and learn to interpret the
participation of minorities in the CCC.
Especially for high school students and beyond - most are surprised (some
shocked) to see and learn that 'colored' people had been enrolled in the
CCC's...in segregated and integrated camps. Often a visit to this
museum is the first time that people are seeing that there were times when
blacks and whites lived and worked together in the decades before the civil
rights movement (and b4 the CCC program and after). Students are surprised to
learn that there were segregated camps in the northeast -I need to be able to
explain this to them accurately.
Interpreting minority participation in the CCC is a particular challenge
for this museum - that has no paid staff or direct funding or support for this.
I have oral histories that I have not been able to record. The Freedom Trail
designation would have supported this.
The least that I've been able to do is provide a bibliography and copy
portions of literature from the history of the program. When I'm giving a tour
to students- I am always asked about minority participation. I am able
to offer some info and I know that it is less than adequate. I want it to be
more than adequate of course.
I'm glad you brought up these issues. I always have it in the back of my
mind to address the issues I need to for the CCC museum, often they get brushed
aside until I am reminded of them one way or another - or I can make the time to
actively address them.
Pam
In a message dated 12/17/2005 1:18:40 A.M. Eastern Standard Time,
[log in to unmask] writes:
I have
trouble explaining slavery to young children but is it right to
"whitewash"
it? Since Ohiohistory is taught in fourth grade, we probably see more
fourth graders
than any other schoolage group. They learn
about the Underground Railroad, which has been
pretty wellwhitewashed and
sanitized itself. If you were to go by the juvenile
fiction
(especially picturebooks) about the Underground Railroad, you would assume
that every fleeing
slave "made itto freedom" which of course was tragically
not the case. How do those of
you who are atmuseums that interpret
slavery or the Underground Railroad deal with this
issue?
Susannah
West
John Rankin House (home of abolitionist John Rankin,
1793-1886)
Ripley, Ohio