The Virginia State Conference of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) on Monday affirmed its full support for the adoption of Virginia’s African American History and Social Science Curriculum implementing recommendations from Governor Ralph Northam’s Commission on African American History Education in the Commonwealth. 

This endorsement of anti-racist education comes at a time when some states are waging war on American history and choosing to promote propaganda over reality. A recent bill signed into law by Texas Governor Greg Abbott prevents teachers from discussing current events with historical context. According to Education Weekly, seven other states have passed laws that restrict what educators are allowed to teach about racism and sexism. The states include: Arizona; Idaho; Iowa; New Hampshire; Oklahoma; South Carolina; and Tennessee. Every state that has passed a similar ban has a Republican governor.

Glenn Youngkin, the Republican nominee for Governor of Virginia, has been an outspoken opponent of Critical Race Theory, vowing to ban it if he wins the gubernatorial race. Youngkin falsely claimed that his Democratic opponent, former Governor Terry McAuliffe, was a supporter of Critical Race Theory. In reality, McAuliffe has refused to speak on the issue, equating it to a meaningless Republican talking point. Princess Blanding, who is running for Governor as the nominee of the Liberation Party, has voiced her support for utilizing tenets of Critical Race Theory in public education.

“Virginia students must learn about the complex and often untold history of Black Americans in Virginia, and our nation,” said Virginia NAACP President Robert N. Barnette, Jr. “The Virginia NAACP expects that all public school districts across the state will follow the History and Social Studies Standards of Learning and Curriculum Framework Revision, as approved by the Board of Education.”

Leaders of the Virginia NAACP also applauded public school educators who are teaching history in its entirety, including the experiences of Black people in Virginia, and our nation.

“We expect that in complying with the state’s SOL curriculum, that superintendents and school administrators will stand behind and support their teachers who are teaching from this curriculum, about Black experiences, or from an anti-racist framework, and do everything in their power to protect teachers from all forms of harassment, retaliation, or retribution from administrators, peers, parents, school board members, or members of the public,” said Dr. Amy Tillerson-Brown, who serves as Education Chair for the Virginia NAACP.

The Virginia NAACP’s statement is a powerful and compelling sentiment coming from one of the nation’s oldest civil rights organizations.