Teaching Black History

Hamden Library Podcast

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For this episode, we wanted to explore how Black history is being taught in Connecticut and in the Hamden and New Haven area. A new state law made Connecticut the first in the nation to compel all its secondary schools to offer elective courses in African-American, Black, Puerto Rican, and Latino studies.

Ryan Keeler talked to Paquita Jarman-Smith of SERC, the State Education Resource Center, who helped create the curriculum being used in these courses.
Ariana Davis spoke with Jennifer Vienneau, Director of Social Studies for Hamden public schools, along with history teacher Greg Trifone and his student Ashlynn, who gave us their perspectives on how this curriculum is being used in Hamden schools.
Finally, Mike Wheatley talked with Joy Burns, a researcher for the Witness Stones Project, an educational initiative that helps “restore the history and honor the humanity of the enslaved who helped build our communities.”