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PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Jennifer T., 12th Grade Student at Global Learning Collaborative
7:04:27
ยท
171 sec
Jennifer T., a 12th-grade student from the Global Learning Collaborative, advocates for the inclusion of critical race theory and a mandatory African American history course in all NYC public schools. She argues that the current curriculum fails to represent the full scope of African American history and contributions, leaving students unprepared to understand racial inequalities in society.
- Jennifer emphasizes the need for a more comprehensive teaching of African American history beyond slavery and the civil rights movement.
- She calls for funding for teacher training, updated curriculum materials, and community partnerships to implement these changes.
- Jennifer stresses that representation in history is a right, not a privilege, and that the fight for racial justice begins in the classroom.
Jennifer T.
7:04:27
Good morning esteemed members of City Council.
7:04:29
My name is Jennifer Torrey and I'm a twelfth grader at the Global Learning Collaborative.
7:04:34
As a student growing up in The Bronx, I've had to navigate multiple identities.
7:04:39
Code switching from being an African to being a black to be a little less ethnic, and even adjusting my speech and mannerism to fit into different spaces.
7:04:51
But one thing that has remained constant was the lack of representation of my history in my education today.
7:04:59
Thus, I am advocating for the inclusion of critical race theory and a mandatory African American history course in all NYC public schools.
7:05:08
New York City is one of the most diverse places in the world, yet our curriculum seems to be incomplete when it comes to the version of American history.
7:05:15
African American history is often reduced to slavery and the civil rights movement failing to recognize the full scope of black contribution, struggle, and achievement.
7:05:24
Without this knowledge, students are left unprepared and don't seem to be able to understand the racial inequalities that still shape our society.
7:05:32
We cannot let our education fall at the hands of people who do not understand us.
7:05:38
Having to be the one to mention the Soa Joa Batista ship that carried human cargo from Angola to being the only one who understood the history of the nation of Liberia, I remember sitting in history class learning about the founding fathers and the constitution, yet hearing only brief mentions of slavery, only being able to see black history begin and end with oppression.
7:06:01
That's not our story.
7:06:03
So no one is talked about, no one has talked about the countless black inventors, scholars, and activists beyond the common names of Martin Luther King and Rosa Parks.
7:06:15
The gap in the knowledge leaves students like me searching for our own history outside of the classroom.
7:06:21
Critical race theory is not about division, it's about education.
7:06:25
It equips students with critical thinking skills to examine history, law, and social structures, helping them understand how race has shaped their institutions.
7:06:34
To make this possible, I believe we need to be funding for teacher training, updating curriculum materials, and community partnerships.
7:06:42
This is not about funding education, it's about funding the truth.
7:06:47
We cannot call ourselves an educated society if we are not willing to teach the full truth.
7:06:52
We cannot fall in line with states like Florida who believe that this is something that should be hidden.
7:06:58
Representation in history is not a privilege, it is a right.
7:07:02
If we truly want to prepare our students to be leaders, decision makers, and change makers, we need to equip them with knowledge that reflects the realities of the world they live in.
7:07:13
The fight for racial justice starts in the classroom.
7:07:16
Let's make it happen.
7:07:17
Thank you.