From the Bronx to Brooklyn, students and parents are speaking out about systemic inequities rooted in America’s unresolved past. Cecilia Muñoz, former director of the U.S. Domestic Policy Council, emphasizes the urgent need to confront history: “We’re reckoning with the things we fail to understand or chose not to see — and those things affect us deeply,” she told myglobalnews.net.
Muñoz highlighted how the legacy of slavery continues to shape disparities facing Black communities, from education to economic opportunities. “It’s more difficult to make progress when we don’t understand our history,” she argued, calling for honest dialogue and policy reforms anchored in historical awareness.
New Yorkers interviewed echoed her sentiments. One Brooklyn high school student shared frustrations over “learning a sanitized version of history that skips over racism’s real impact.” Parents emphasized the need for inclusive curricula to empower future generations.
As debates over critical race theory and school policies intensify, Muñoz urges a focus on unity through accountability: “Ignoring the past won’t heal divisions. Understanding it might.”
Reference(s):
The Race Gap in the U.S.: When we don't understand our history
cgtn.com
