The Sister Clara Mohamed Muslim School given education in history in celebration of Black History Month

The Standard 6 social studies class of the Sister Clara Muhammad Muslim School, in celebrating Black History Month, visited the Dr. Leroy Taegar Institute of Learning, formerly the Library of African and Indian Studies, managed by the UBAD Educational Foundation.

Marva Garcia, the teacher who headed the class, said that in class they discussed many topics—including the culture of our indigenous ancestors and how they got to this part of the world, and they visited the institute to delve deeper into this subject matter. The class was given a lecture on the Africans who later became slaves, and how they came to Belize.

The teacher noted that the children were very enthusiastic and engaged, and asked questions. The lectures were very educational and she also learnt many things in the process, she said.

The primary emphasis of Black History Month is to encourage the coordinated teaching of the history of black people in schools. It is believed that the teaching of black history is essential to ensure the physical and intellectual survival of black people within broader society:

The founder of Black History Month, Carter G. Woodson, said that “If a race has no history, it has no worthwhile tradition; it becomes a negligible factor in the thought of the world, and it stands in danger of being exterminated.”