_At the risk of alienating you, statistics are too dismal against African Americans compared with any other race, to not include more history and additional tips on their behalf—not to encourage any type of favoritism or entitlement toward these students, but to promote awareness and attention as to the accuracy and thoroughness of what we’re teaching. A gross imbalance persists, and it is our job as educators to shift the scales as much as possible. The only way to do this is be informed. Remember the major difference between African Americans and all other mono- ethnicities is a severe lack of identity, which discourages any kind of unity.

As you will learn, a sense of identity is crucial to developing healthy self-esteem, which is affected by others’ perceptions of us, a sense of purpose, a positive attitude, role models to whom we may relate, education, and validation of our existence, which fosters a sense of belonging—all of which were deliberately withheld from African Americans.  Their identity was purposely cultivated by slave owners (and slave mothers, to keep their sons alive) as being less than human and deserving of nothing. They were no more than pieces of property. Their African lives are deceptively portrayed as savage and disloyal.
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