Hampton University

100 East Queen St.

714 Dubois Hall
Hampton, Va 23668

Dr. Jamelle S. Wilson, Board of Education

Virginia Department of Education Headquarters
James Monroe Building
101 N. 14th Street
Richmond, VA 23219

Dear Dr Wilson,

I am a current student at Hampton University and I am writing to you today on a matter that
weighs down on my heart. Throughout my entire life in public school I have been missing half of
my American history, especially the part that I believe is the most important. Unfortunately,
besides Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X, powerful African Americans, especially African
American women, are not discussed in class as much as Caucasian historical figures are.
Growing up, besides learning about Rosa Parks, the importance of powerful African American
women was never discussed in classrooms. Coming to an Historically Black College and
University (HBCU) really opened my eyes on the importance of the contributions of African
American figures in history and I feel like young students around the world should receive the
same knowledge.

This is why I’m writing to you, in hopes of a change that could have a huge impact on many
young adults lives. I believe that it is necessary for the public school curriculum to include the
contributions of African American women in our U.S. American history. This is very important
because African American women have contributed to all aspects of our world and some
important events in history wouldn’t have occurred if it wasn’t for these powerful women. This is
why you need to create a law that requires all of the public school curriculum to include the
accomplishments of African American women.

It wasn’t until I went to an event that National Association for the Advancement of Colored
People (NAACP) held at Hampton University, where I was informed about important African
American women and their accomplishments. A few of the women that were mentioned
consisted of the following: 1. Mae Jemison, the first African American astronaut and first women
to go into space. 2. Shirley Chisholm, the first African American congresswoman and the first to
contend for the presidential office. 3. Bessie Coleman, the first African American woman to
become an aviation pilot and the first American to hold an international pilot license.These are
just a few of the very powerful, successful, and influential African American women that were
never even mentioned in the classroom. This is what the world has come to. Where the
contributions of African American women have been overlooked and brushed under the rug, as
if they don’t even matter. This is why I believe it’s so important that these women get the
recognition that they deserve. Therefore, it’s time for the public school curriculum to include the
contributions of African American women in our U.S. American history. With the help of the new
law, young adults will receive the full education that they deserve and will contain the knowledge
on all of American history, including African American women.

Sincerely,

__________________________