African-American Home School

There's good news for those of us who are black homeschoolers - the African-American home school movement is growing!

In addition, black homeschooling parents are able to teach African-American history and culture, an area often neglected by traditional schools until Black History Month. Our children learn about the heroic black soldiers, pilots and inventors who have contributed to America. They grow up with a strong sense of purpose and identity, which is often damaged by the racial bias and labeling that occur in public schools.

Challenges

Some families have come under fire for abandoning the legacy of the civil rights movement. However, African American homeschoolers realize hard won court decisions like Brown vs. Board of Education didn’t solve our problems. Public schools remain largely segregated and the government has not lived up to its promise to care for our children.

As for arguments that removing good students will weaken the schools for those who can’t leave, schools have had great students in their classrooms for years, yet the system continues to fail many children.

Lack of information about homeschooling, lack of diversity in homeschooling circles, and lack of support are among the many concerns of African-American homeschoolers. Organizations such as National Black Home Educators Resource Association work to promote homeschooling, and I have found that blacks are largely welcomed by the homeschooling community as a whole.

African-Americans have long believed education is the key to success. Black homeschoolers support that belief. We just think home is the best place to educate our children.

For more information about African-American homeschooling, visit the Black Homeschoolers Club, African-American Unschoolers or Mocha Moms.