Middle school teacher travels horseback to teach Black history lesson

Memphis (12/16/2007) Galloping through downtown Memphis on an arabian stallion, it’s something you don’t see everyday. It’s the way New Jersey middle school teacher, Miles Dean, is journeying cross country to teach a lesson in the history of a people.

“The story of Africans and African Americans who from the 1500’s through the 1800’s assisted with the exploration, expansion, and the development of the United States. That history that’s not told in the text books of the classrooms,”said Dean.

Dean started in lower Manhattan in September. He’ll travel all the way to California.

“African American children need to know more about who they are. They need to know their history did not begin in slavery, that they have a rich 6,000 year old history,” said Dean.

Dean blogs on the web about places he’s visited showing how his ancestors helped contribute to the building of the nation.

Dean said, “Teachers need to teach more African American studies. Incorporate more African American history into the math and sciences because the history is rich in all disciplines.”

Just as important as the rider in this journey is the horse. His name is Sankofa. Loosely translated in Africa, it means to return to the source. (more…)