Amistad Law Comes Alive At NJ Summer Institute, Newark Teacher Says

NEWARK, NJ — A public school teacher from Newark continues his push to educate students – and other educators – about the importance of teaching Black history.

Bashir Muhammad Ptah Akinyele, a teacher at Weequahic High School, was among the community activists and educators who took part in this year’s Amistad Commission’s Summer Institute, which was held at Stockton University’s campus in Atlantic City.

One of the main goals of the summer institute is to improve New Jersey teachers’ awareness of the Amistad Law, which mandates that African and African American history be included in public school curriculums. The bill was created in 2002 by two former New Jersey state assembly members, William D. Payne and Craig A. Stanley.

For many years, activists in the city of Newark fought to make Black history a part of the instructional curriculum in their schools, Akinyele said.

But many people in New Jersey – and in America – still do not understand the importance and significance of the state’s Amistad Law, he added.

“This law is leading the way to help abolish centuries of white supremacy ideology plaguing humanity in the classroom,” Akinyele said. “The Amistad law cultivates the progressive and inclusive growth of our society by legally mandating the schools to teach the contributions Black people made to human civilizations in social studies classes and in subject area curricula throughout the state of New Jersey.”

Akinyele – one of a few Newark public school history teachers enrolled in program this summer – said the highlight of the Amistad Commission’s summer institute took place on day three, when Noelle Lorraine Williams, a historian with New Jersey Historical Society, facilitated a plenary that centered on the progression of Black liberation struggles beginning from the 17th century to the 20th century in Newark and New Jersey in general.

He also said another high point of the summer institute was its “virtual tour” of Ghana.

“The educational experience I received at the Amistad Summer Institute helps me to include the lessons of Black history into the missing pages of history in social studies,” Akinyele said.

“I think all educators need to attend the Amistad Summer Institute,” he encouraged. “It will help all teachers approach the social studies curriculum in fair and balanced way.”

This year’s Amistad Commission’s Summer Institute took place from Aug. 4 to Aug. 7. Next year’s event will take place at Kean University in Union.

‘THE BIRTHPLACE OF HUMANITY’

According to Akinyele, descendants of Africa have contributed to “making western democracy real for all people” – especially in America.

He wrote:

“Scientific evidence shows that Africa is the birthplace of all humanity; her people populated the world (i.e., Asia, Europe. the Middle East, North America, South America, and Australia).

“Evidence also shows that the descendants of Africa helped to author civilization, contributed to democracy, and were at the root of the development of the world's major religions (i.e., Judaism, Christianity, and Al-Islam).

“One of those African cultures that helped developed civilization and religions was ancient Egypt. It reflected humanity's march toward creating the world's first highly advanced civilization in times of antiquity. It played a central role in the development of mathematics, philosophy, medicine, science, government, architecture, a written language, art, monotheism, education, ethics, morals, and religion.

“Many cultures and nations borrowed from the knowledge and wisdom of ancient Africa to push their civilization forward towards the foundations of modern society. Unfortunately, white supremacy does not include this history in social studies.

“If anything, ancient Egypt has been made an European or Arab civilization. Its history is included only as western civilization. When in fact, Egypt began as a Black civilization. According to the hieroglyphics, Egypt original name is Kemet. When translated from the hieroglyphics, the word Kemet means the black land. Due to invasions by Assyrians, the Persians, the Greeks, the Romans, and the Arabs through the centuries, the original Black inhabitants of Kemet were made extinct or pushed to other parts of Africa.

“After the fall of ancient Kemet, great African empires arose during the European dark ages. Those African civilizations were Ghana, Mali, and Songhay. Ghana, Mali, and Songhay all were highly developed civilizations with African faith traditions, Islamic faith traditions, philosophy, science, government structures, and universities.

“In 711 A.D, Muslims from Africa dominated Spain all the way until 1492. They helped Spain find its way out the Dark Ages by building schools, government structures, architecture, providing interest in the sciences, irrigation systems, and establishing an Islamic faith tradition. These African Muslims were called Moors by Europeans. Moors were defined by Europeans to mean Black people

“But the descendants of Africa did not stop at helping develop civilization and religions, they contributed to making western democracy real for all people, especially in America. African American liberation struggles from slavery and segregation are models for equality and empowerment in America and in the world.

“All of this Black history are the missing chapters of America and world history.”

• See Related: NJ Amistad Law Is Crucial For Black History, Newark Teacher Says
• See Related: Newark Teacher Is Ready For Black History Class: 'Taking Our Stance'
• See Related: Newark Activists Decry Attempts To ‘Stifle’ Black History In Schools

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