Everything Under The Sun: History Ignored, But Now Explored

Monday, March 28, 2016

History Ignored, But Now Explored

Some old and new members of Making HERstory.

One of the things that I learned when I was a young adult was how much of history was left out of the texts and school-presented history courses (this was before reaching college). There was an entire additional history that had been missed in basic history education, like women's contributions, what black history and culture contributed, the Japanese-American detention camps during World War II. College history did include much of this missed history, opening my eyes to what had been missing.

Lena Khader, an educator in Oklahoma City, started MAKING HERSTORY, a program designed for young adults to learn about this history that had been avoided in the classroom. The reason for developing this program, according to Ms. Khader, is that history is "a male-dominated term, [and her] students will be Making HERstory, with meaning both figuratively and physically."

Twenty high school students were hosted at a local library. They utilized readings, music, personal narratives, documentaries, and interactive lectures to become more informed. It was, and is, education within the community, exploring feminism, ethnic studies, and their own personal accounts of the history that has occurred during their lifetimes, to become more empowered and civically engaged.

The other thing that Ms. Khader wanted to do was to publish their discussions and discoveries as a curriculum that can be utilized by teachers and community educators. She has posted some of the topics in the form of a blog and also used her online space as a way to announce upcoming activities. In some ways, the sessions even become a social occasion, including potluck dinners as the background for discussion and learning.

Whiteboard notes from a session.

Some of the topics have included recent issues with dramatic impact throughout this country, such as police brutality, disability rights, US foreign policy regarding ISIS, environmental issues, LGBTQ engagement, and socioeconomic privilege. There is a beginners' track, for those just starting sessions, and the intermediate track, for those who have already been in the program with the previous group of students.