Fresh Prince of Bel Air

1) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YsCT3fwqxqc
2) I chose an episode from the show Fresh Prince of Bel-Air called “Ethnic Tip”. This episode occurs at the prep school that Will and Carlton attend. During this episode Will receives his history test to find that he failed the test. He then complains about how no black history is taught at his school, and how if black history was taught he would better in history class. Will then goes to a school meeting trying to change the curriculum, and succeeds with his argument.
3) This episode of the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air relates to Zinn’s article “Columbus, the Indians and Human Progress” because Zinn talks about how history is viewed in the eyes of the conquerors. Zinn mentions “in history books given to children in the United States, for generation after generation, it all starts with heroic adventure – there is no bloodshed – and Columbus Day is a celebration” (8). This is mentioned to show how history is taught to students in a certain way, because people choose to omit the bad and make the good known to the people. Just like how Zinn mentions that historians occasionally omit information, the prep school that Will and Carlton go to omit the history of the African American community in America. This school omitted teaching that part of history because of the book they used, and how the teacher did not know anything more than what the book said. While at the school board meeting the principal seemed to be against the idea of changing the curriculum and stalled to change it. He kept giving excuses on why the curriculum should not be changed, until Vivian convinced him that she will teach African American history for a month. Will had to fight in order to get African American history taught in a school that is predominantly white, and when he won the school was better off because they no longer were ignoring a part of history, they were learning about it all.
4) I believe that parts of history are ignored because they either seem like minor details, or because people do not want future generations to know their real actions. Schools do not teach about the wrongs that Columbus did because it completely changes the view on America. Any details that have been omitted in the past can surface with serious repercussions on the views. If we begin to now surface parts of history that historians have omitted, then what else have we not been told? I think that people might actually begin to question whether or not history is true, or if what we read are just some fictional stories about heroes. Parts of history cannot be ignored, like the history of African Americans and their fight for equal rights. No schools have a right to ignore that part of history. There is physical evidence of the hardships that occurred during that time. Ignoring that part of history would be like the Germans ignoring the fact that World War II happened because of their beloved leader and his ideals. When there is evidence that proves what is historical is true then it should be not and not ignored no matter what the situation is. If the educator does not know about that part of history then he/she should learn that so that history can be taught correctly in America. We all have the right to know, and should know, everything that has happened in our history, the good, the bad, and the ugly.