N.Y. Arts and Cultural Affairs Law § 57.51: Legislative findings

§ 57.51. Legislative findings. The legislature finds and declares

that:

1. During the period beginning late in the fifteenth century through

the nineteenth century, millions of persons of African origin were

enslaved and brought to the Western Hemisphere, including the United

States of America; anywhere from between twenty to fifty percent of

enslaved Africans died during their journey to the Western Hemisphere;

the enslavement of Africans and their descendants was part of a

concerted effort of physical and psychological terrorism that deprived

groups of people of African descent the opportunity to preserve many of

their social, religious, political and other customs; the vestiges of

slavery in this country continued with the legalization of second class

citizenship status for African-Americans through Jim Crow laws,

segregation and other similar practices; the legacy of slavery has

pervaded the fabric of our society; and in spite of these events there

are endless examples of the triumphs of African-Americans and their

significant contributions to the development of this country.

2. All people should know of and remember the human carnage and

dehumanizing atrocities committed during the period of the African slave

trade and slavery in America and of the vestiges of slavery in this

country; and it is in fact vital to educate our citizens on these

events, the legacy of slavery, the sad history of racism in this

country, and on the principles of human rights and dignity in a

civilized society.

3. It is the policy of the state of New York that the history of the

African slave trade, slavery in America, the depth of their impact in

our society, and the triumphs of African-Americans and their significant

contributions to the development of this country is the proper concern

of all people, particularly students enrolled in the schools of the

state of New York.

4. It is therefore desirable to create a state-level commission, which

shall research and survey the extent to which the African slave trade

and slavery in America is included in the curricula of New York state

schools, and make recommendations to the legislature and executive

regarding the implementation of education and awareness programs in New

York concerned with the African slave trade, slavery in America, the

vestiges of slavery in this country, and the contributions of

African-Americans in building our country. Such recommendations may

include, but not be limited to, the development of workshops,

institutes, seminars, and other teacher training activities designed to

educate teachers on this subject matter; the coordination of events on a

regular basis, throughout the state, that provide appropriate

memorialization of the events concerning the enslavement of Africans and

their descendants in America as well as their struggle for freedom and

liberty; and suggestions for revisions to the curricula and textbooks

used to educate the students of New York state to reflect a more

adequate inclusion of issues identified by the commission.