Students deserve to know the truth. America is a nation founded by White men who intentionally excluded Black people, women, and other marginalized groups from accessing equal rights. Therefore, Black people like Parks needed to challenge racist ideas, beliefs, policies, and laws to help America live up to its purported values that we have "certain unalienable rights." Black people in the modern era are still fighting racist laws, like those that intentionally omit and distort Black history (here’s looking at you, Florida). While Rosa Parks is a well-known civil rights activist, we shouldn't take the public's understanding as inevitable. People develop an understanding of civil rights figures by discussing their lives and experiences honestly. Students gain nothing from white lies.
Dr. Allison Wiltz
