THIS WEEK ON TO THE CONTRARY.•• FIRST, THE #METOO MOVEMENT AND WORKING CLASS WOMEN.

THEN, BEHIND THE HEADLINES: WHY CRITICS SAY AMERICAN SCHOOLS GET AN F WHEN IT COMES TO TEACHING THE HISTORY OF SLAVERY.

HELLO, I'M BONNIE ERBE.

WELCOME TO TO THE CONTRARY, A DISCUSSION OF NEWS AND SOCIAL TRENDS FROM DIVERSE PERSPECTIVES.

UP FIRST, USING TECHNOLOGY TO BOOST WOMEN'S ADVANCEMENT.

THE METOO MOVEMENT HAS HELPED FEMALE TARGETS OF SEXUAL HARASSMENT AND ASSAULT BY SOME OF THE MOST POWERFUL, BIG NAME MEN IN US POLITICS, ENTERTAINMENT, AND BUSINESS.

BUT SOME SAY WOMEN IN LOW WAGE JOBS WITH NO FAMOUS BOSSES HAVE SO FAR BEEN LEFT OUT.

THAT IS APPARENTLY STARTING TO CHANGE, ESPECIALLY IN SERVICE JOBS, AGRICULTURAL WORK AND THE HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY.

COMMUNITY AND UNION ORGANIZERS SAY THEY SEE WOMEN MORE WILLING TO SPEAK OUT, AND BOSSES WILLING TO FIRE WORKERS WHO SEXUALLY HARASS OR ASSAULT LOW-WAGE WOMEN.

MEANWHILE, ANOTHER FORM OF SOCIAL MEDIA IS EMERGING IN ADDITION TO TWITTER THAT WOMEN ARE USING TO OUT ABUSIVE PEOPLE IN POWER.

SHE IS MAKING $2.15.

AND WORKED FOR A CHEF AND SAYS THE #METOO MOVEMENT HAS NOT TRICKLED DOWN TO LOW-WAGE WORKERS YET.

>> WE HAVE NOT SEEN CHANGES AND THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR CHANGE BUT I REALLY THINK THAT IT'S UP TO WORKERS TO GET ORGANIZED AND MAKE THIS HAPPEN WHILE EVERYBODY'S LIKE PAYING ATTENTION.

YOU KNOW BECAUSE IT IS AN ISSUE.

IT MAY NOT BE ON EVERYBODY'S MIND IN A FEW MONTHS BUT IF REAL CHANGE IS NOT MADE THEN IT WILL STILL BE HERE.

>> MEANWHILE ANOTHER FORM OF SOCIAL MEDIA IS EMERGING IN ADDITION TO TWITTER THAT WOMEN ARE USING TO OUT ABUSIVE PEOPLE IN POWER.

MORA HAD TO TAKE DOWN A GOOGLE SPREAD SHEET SHE POSTED FOR WOMEN TO OUT ABUSIVE MEN IN MEDIA.

THE SPREAD SHEET CAUGHT FIRE ON-LINE.

SHE HAD TO TAKE IT DOWN AFTER 12 HOURS BECAUSE IT LISTED THE NAMES OF 70 MEN.

AND SHE DID NOT WANT TO BE SUED FOR LIBEL IF THERE WERE UNCONFIRMED INCIDENTS AND MEN PUBLICLY NAMED.

SO WHY ISN'T LATIFA OF THE LABOR DEPARTMENT WHY ISN'T THIS TRICKLING DOWN TO LOWER INCOME WOMEN?

>> THE ON-LINE MOVEMENT MAKES AN ASSUMPTION THAT ALL WOMEN IN WOMEN WORKING HAVE THE PRIVILEGE TO SPEAK OUT AND THE TRUTH IS THAT ISN'T THE CASE FOR MOST WOMEN.

>> WELL, IN PART BECAUSE THEY DO NOT HAVE A HUGE SOCIAL MEDIA FOLLOWING AND TMZ OUTLETS ARE NOT WILLING TO PICK UP THE STORIES.

THAT IS THE UNTOLD PART OF THE STORY.

>> I THINK THE ECONOMIC FROM GUILT INHERENT MAKES SPEAKING OUT THAT MUCH MORE DANGEROUS FOR THEM.

>> I AGREE.

I THINK THESE WOMEN HAVE MORE TO LOSE THAN SOME OF THE OTHER WOMEN THAT WOULD BE MORE COMPELLED TO HAVE A MOVEMENT BEHIND SOCIAL MEDIA.

>> IF IT DOESN'T SPREAD BEYOND HOLLYWOOD AND LET'S STEP BACK A SECOND BECAUSE IT MAY ACTUALLY BE ALREADY HELPING SOME LOW WAGE WOMEN IN HOLLYWOOD MAYBE SOME HAVE BENEFITED IN SOME WAY.

BUT OBVIOUSLY NOT WAITRESSES IN NEW ORLEANS, EARNING $2.15 AN HOUR.

ISN'T THAT PART OF THE PROBLEM RIGHT THERE?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

CERTAIN JOBS THAT ALLOW FOR BELOW MINIMUM WAGE WORK MAKES IT SO THAT THESE WOMEN RELY ON TIPS.

THAT IS HOW THEY SURVIVE.

SO THAT PUTS THEM ATTIC DANGER IN TERMS OF THE BEHAVIOR OF CUSTOMERS AND IN DANGER IN TERMS OF THE BEHAVIOR OF THEIR BOSSES BECAUSE THEY NEED TO HAVE THE HOURS TO BE ABLE TO GET THE TIPS.

IT IS A COMPLETE DOMINO EFFECT AND IT MAKES IT MUCH MORE FRAGILE FOR THEIR ABILITY TO SPEAK OUT.

>> WE WANT TO GET TO A PLACE WHERE THE WOMEN CANNOT MAKE THIS RISK ASSESSMENT WHETHER IT IS OK TO SPEAK OUT AND LOW WAGE WORKERS ARE DISADVANTAGED.

AM I GOING TO BE RETALIATED AGAINST, DO I KNOW WHAT MY RIGHTS ARE?

AND I COULD LOSE MY JOB AND POTENTIALLY HAVE THE INABILITY TO SUPPORT MY FAMILY.

>> IS IT THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE STATE OF NEW ORLEANS OR LOUISIANA WHOEVER PUT THAT $2 PRESIDENT BUSH 15 WAGE INTO EFFECT?

>> SURE, INCOME DISPARITY MAKES IT HARDER AND MAKES IT MUCH MORE DIFFICULT FOR THE POPULATION BUT THERE ARE THINGS THAT CAN BE DONE.

THE FACT THAT UNIONS ARE MOBILIZING IS A POSITIVE SIGN AND GIVES THE WOMEN IN THE HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY AN ABILITY TO KNOW THEY HAVE AN ADVOCATE IN THE FIGHT RATHER THAN ASSUMING THEY HAVE TO GO TO THE SUPERVISOR TO FIGHT THIS FIGHT.

>> AND I THINK THE TIME'S UP MOVEMENT OR INITIATIVE IS ANOTHER AVENUE FOR WOMEN WHO NEED HELP TO FIND IT.

THIS IS A PRIVATE KIND OF INITIATIVE THAT IS CREATING A LEGAL FUND DEFENSE FUND $14 MILLION RIGHT NOW FOR WOMEN WHO DO NOT HAVE THAT PLATFORM TO GO AND BE ABLE TO FUND THEIR OWN LEGAL REDRESS.

AND I THINK THAT IS IMPORTANT.

IT'S NOT JUST ON THE GOVERNMENT SIDE.

IT'S ALSO PRIVATE INDUSTRY, INDIVIDUALS, WOMEN WHO HAVE POWER, AND RESOURCES BRINGING THAT TO THE TABLE.

>> I THINK THERE IS SOMETHING WE CAN DO SOCIETALLY AND ALSO FROM A GOVERNMENT PERSPECTIVE.

WHAT HAPPENS ON A POLICY LEVEL INCORPORATIONS AND ON THE WORKPLACE SOMETIMES IS ABOUT THE BOTTOM LINE.

AND IF THERE'S NOTHING IN COMPELLING EMPLOYERS TO CHANGE THE WAY THEY PRACTICE AND THE WAY THEY DO THEIR BUSINESS AND THEY CAN STILL MAKE GET TO THEIR BOTTOM LINE AND NOT CHANGE A THING, KNOWING THAT EVEN WITH THE LEGAL DEFENSE FUND A LOT OF WOMEN ARE NOT GOING TO TAKE THE TIME AND ENERGY TO GO THAT ROUTE.

HOW DO WE GET THE EMPLOYERS AND THE PEOPLE IN POWER TO CHANGE THEIR PARADIGM.

>> HOW DO YOU DO THAT?

AND WHAT RESOURCES, IF ANY, DO THE WOMEN LIKE SHE TOLD ME DURING THE INTERVIEW, THAT THERE WAS SOMEONE WHO HAD BEEN FIRED BY A BOSS WHO HAD REPEATED ALLEGATIONS OF SEXUAL ASSAULT AND ASEXUAL HARASSMENT AND THEY ARE DOING A PROTEST THROUGH DOWNTOWN NEW ORLEANS COMING UP.

>> ONE THING I THINK WE CAN TAKE FROM THE #METOO MOVEMENT THE HIGH PEOPLE IN POWER HAVE HAD ECONOMIC IMPLICATIONS LOSING HIGH LEVEL JOBS OR LOSING EQUITY IN YOUR FIRM OR LOSING YOUR ABILITY TO EVEN GO TO WORK.

I THINK THAT YOU KNOW, NOT TO SAY THAT PUBLIC SHAMING IS HOW WE ARE GOING TO GET THIS PROBLEM SOLVED BUT THERE IS SOMETHING TO THE COMPANIES AND THE EMPLOYERS AND THE BOSSES WHO SAY THIS IS NOT GOING TO BE ON MY WATCH.

I WILL TAKE A STEP AND GET RID OF THOSE BAD ACTORS AND I THINK THE #METOO MOVEMENT SAID THERE COULD BE CONSEQUENCES IF WE TAKE THESE THINGS SERIOUSLY.

UNTIL THE FOLKS ON THE TOP ARE ABLE TO CHANGE THE BEHAVIOR AND NOT BE ENABLED TO CONTINUE THIS BEHAVIOR, WE CAN CONTINUE MARCHING IN THE STREETS FOR NOT.

>> IF CONSERVATIVES FOR EXAMPLE ARE OPPOSED TO HIKING MINIMUM WAGE, WAGES, WHAT OTHER WAYS CAN YOU GET THE PEOPLE AT THE TOP OF CORPORATIONS TO RESPOND?

CAN YOU DENY THEM TAX CUTS?

IF THEY -- DO THEY NEED TO PAY A HIGHER CORPORATE TAX THAN THE 21% THAT CONGRESS PASSED?

AND THE PRESIDENT SIGNED IF THEY ARE ACCUSED OF SO MANY INSTANCES OF SEXUAL HARASSMENT?

>> YOU RAISE A GOOD POINT.

AND THINK ENVIRONMENT ONE OF THE CHALLENGES FOR IDENTIFYING WHAT ARE SUCCESSES IS UNDERSTANDING WHAT THE CONSEQUENCES ARE FOR WHETHER IT'S BUSINESSES OR EMPLOYERS OR HARASSERS.

AND RIGHT NOW THAT CONSEQUENCE IS I DON'T HAVE A JOB OR I DO NOT WORK ON HOUSE OF CARDS.

BUT WHAT IS THE LONG-TERM IMPACT FOR THE WOMEN WHO ARE VICTIMS?

AND THAT IS A DISCUSSION THAT NEEDS TO BE HAD IS DOES THE PUNISHMENT FIT THE CRIME AND THE PUNISHMENT I DO NOT WORK ANYMORE BUT THE WOMEN ARE STILL FACING THE CHALLENGE OF BEING A VICTIM AND SPEAKING OUT AND HAVING TO GO TO WORK WITH HOPEFULLY A DIFFERENT BOSS WHO DOES NOT HARASS THEM.

AND THEY HAVE NEW POLICIES THAT GO IN PLACE.

I THINK THE UNIONS, EEOC AND THE GOVERNMENT AND POLICING INTERNALLY AMONGST CORPORATIONS NEEDS TO HAPPEN TO SHOW THERE IS SUCCESS AND WE ARE NOT CONTINUING TO TALK ABOUT THIS FIVE OR 10 YEARS FROM NOW.

>> IS THERE A NEXUS BETWEEN LOW WAGES AND INCREASED SEXUAL HARASSMENT AND SEXUAL ASSAULT WITHIN A INDUSTRY?

>> HOLLYWOOD HIGH WAGES FOR THE ACTORS, ET CETERA.

NOT SO MUCH FOR THE COURIERS OR THE ASSISTANTS ON THE SHOOT AT LOWER LEVELS.

>> I DO THINK THAT SEXUAL HARASSMENT IS SOMETHING THAT CAN IMPACT ANY WOMEN AT ANY LEVEL OF ANY INCOME, ANY RACE.

THE BOUNDARIES ARE NOT THERE.

BUT I DO BELIEVE THAT LOW INCOME WOMEN ARE ESPECIALLY VULNERABLE.

I BELIEVE THOSE VICTIMIZERS UNDERSTAND THE RELATIVE POWERLESSNESS OF THOSE WOMEN AND THEY TAKE ADVANTAGE OF IT.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> AND ASIDE FROM INCREASING WAGES, HOW DO YOU MAKE THEM MORE POWERFUL?

>> FOR ME IT HAS TO BE IMPLICATIONS.

WHEN THERE ARE INFRACTIONS THERE HAS TO BE CONSEQUENCES AND ONE OF THE BEST THINGS ABOUT THIS MOVEMENT WE ARE BEGINNING TO SEQUENCES BEHIND THIS.

WHEN YOU HAVE SOMETHING LIKE THIS GOING ON FOR YEARS AND PEOPLE ARE ABLE TO GET AWAY WITH IT OVER AND OVER AGAIN THERE IS NO IMPERATIVE TO STOP.

UNTIL THERE ARE CONSEQUENCE IT WILL GO OBJECT.

>> AND THERE IS A LEVEL OF EMPOWERMENT THAT NEEDS TO TAKE PLACE.

A LOT OF THESE WOMEN ARE NOT AWARE OF THEIR RIGHTS THEIR EMPLOYER IS NOT TELLING THEM.

SOME OF THAT IS THE EEOC AND SOME IS IF YOU CAN EMPOWER THE WOMEN TO KNOW WHO THEIR RIGHTS ARE THEY CAN FEEL MORE CONFIDENT STANDING UP AGAINST SOMEONE.

>> WE'VE SEEN TWITTER THE #METOO MOVEMENT, THE HASHTAG MOVEMENTS AND NOW THERE IS A WOMAN WHO HAD TO TAKE DOWN THE GOOGLE SPREAD SHEET BECAUSE SHE HAD SO MANY NAMES SO QUICKLY.

WHAT IS NEXT USING OTHER FORMS OF MEDIA OR SOCIAL MEDIA TO KEEP THIS THING GOING AND EVEN PROPEL IT FORWARD?

>> TO SOME EXTENT IN TERMS OF THE LOW WAGE WORKERS, RESTAURANTS ARE IN COMMUNITIES.

THERE IS NOT A LOT WE CAN DO FOR LOTS OF INDUSTRIES.

THERE ARE INDUSTRIES THAT ARE LOCAL AND WE CAN MAKE OUR DECISIONS AND USE OUR VOICES HOW WE SPEND OUR MONEY.

AND I THINK THERE IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO SAY WE DON'T WANT TO KNOW THAT NOTHING HAPPENED.

WE WANT TO KNOW THAT YOU AS A BUSINESS LEADER IN THE COMMUNITY IN THE U.P.S.

HAS AN AFFIRMATIVE -- UNITED STATES HAS AN AFFIRMATIVE PLAN TO SAY THIS IS NOT GOING TO HAPPEN WHERE WE WORK AND YOU SHOULD BE PROTECTED AND EMPOWERED AT WORK NOT TARGETED.

AND I THINK THERE IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR FOLKS TO COME OUT OF THE WOODWORK AND PEOPLE HAVE NOW WE HAVE POLICIES.

BUT WHAT DOES IT MEAN?

AND THE CONSUMERS' DECISIONS IN RESPONDING TO THAT?

AND THE OTHER PIECE IS IMPORTANT FOR SURVIVORS OR WOMEN IN THE CASES IS IT DOESN'T MEAN DON'T HAVE TO BE 10,000 WOMEN.

IT CAN BE JUST YOUR CASE.

AND THAT IS THE OTHER TAKE AWAY IS WITH THE MOVEMENTS IS LIKE YOU HAVE THE SERIAL OFFENDERS IF PEOPLE SAY IF SOMETHING HAS NOT HAPPENED TO FIVE OTHER PEOPLE I CANNOT TALK ABOUT IT.

NO, ONE TIME IS ENOUGH AND ONE PERPETRATOR DOING IT TO ONE WOMAN IS ENOUGH.

>> I WANT TO BRING IN ANOTHER ASPECT WHICH IS AND I AGREE WITH YOU ON THE CONSEQUENCE OF THEIR NEEDING TO BE SOME BUT THERE ARE UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES THAT HAVE A BACKLASH AGAINST WOMEN.

CHERYL SANDBERG, THE C.E.O.

OF Facebook TALKED ABOUT THIS MEN ARE GOING TO FEEL LIKE THEY ARE NOT ABLE TO BE AROUND YOUNG WOMEN IN PARTICULAR AND HAVE THE ONE-ON-ONE INTERACTIONS.

LEAN IN, RELEASED A STUDY THAT 50% OF MALE MANAGERS ARE NOT WILLING TO BE ALONE WITH WOMEN.

HAVE ONE-ON-ONE INTERACTIONS WITH THEM.

AND THAT IS A DANGEROUS, DANGEROUS CHILLING EFFECT HOW MEN AND WOMEN ARE COMMUNICATING IN THE WORKPLACE.

AND THAT IS SOMETHING LEFT OUT OF THIS CONVERSATION.

>> WHAT ABOUT SOMETHING LIKE LOOK AT HOW VIDEOS COP CAMS HAVE CHANGED THE POLICING INDUSTRY.

WHY NOT AI ARTIFICIAL INTENSE JEANS WHY NOT EVERY TIME YOU HAVE YOUR CELLPHONE AND A HIDDEN CAMERA, A HIDDEN EAR PHONES, HIDDEN MICROPHONES, AND AI SCANS THAT STUFF AND IF IT PICKS UP CERTAIN WORDS IT REPORTS IT?

>> THERE ARE THINGS THAT COULD WORK NOT NECESSARILY SURVEILLANCE.

BUT I THINK GLASS DOOR AND OTHER OPPORTUNITIES WHERE EMPLOYERS DO -- EMPLOYEES HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO TALK ABOUT WHAT IS HAPPENING IN THE WORKPLACE IN AN ANONYMOUS WAY BUT PEOPLE LOOKING FOR JOBS AND LOOKING TO RATE EMPLOYERS AND COMPANIES USE WEBSITES WHERE PEOPLE LEAVING AN ORGANIZATION OR A COMPANY SAY THIS WAS MY EXPERIENCE.

I DO NOT THINK THOSE TOOLS HAVE BEEN BROUGHT TO THE FORE.

>> EVERY WOMAN WOULD BE SITTING BY HERSELF IF EVERYONE HAD A CAMERA.

>> AND MEN DO NOT FEEL COMFORTABLE AND JOIN THE CLUB THIS IS HOW WOMEN HAVE FELT FOR YEARS.

I KNOW LOTS OF YOUNG WOMEN WHO SAY I HOPE I DO NOT HAVE TO GO TO LUNCH BY MYSELF WITH THAT GUY.

SO THE TABLES HAVE TURNED.

>> LOTS OF GOOD GUYS OUT THERE.

>> THERE ARE.

>> THERE ARE.

MORE GOOD GUYS THAN BAD GUYS.

>> WE FOCUS HOW SLAVERY IS TAUGHT AT SCHOOL.

A REPORT FINDS AMERICAN SCHOOLS GET AN F IN TEACHING THE HISTORY OF SLAVERY AND ITS IMPACT.

>> TEACHING HARD HISTORY AMERICAN SLAVERY IS REALLY LOOKING AT HOW DO WE TEACH AMERICAN SLAVERY IN THIS COUNTRY?

WHAT DO KIDS LEARN?

AND HOW SHOULD WE TEACH IT?

AND WE ARE HOPING TO SPARK A PUBLIC CONVERSATION ABOUT WHAT WE KNOW ABOUT THE HISTORY OF AMERICAN SLAVERY.

AND WHAT WE SHOULD KNOW ABOUT IT.

>> MAUREEN COSTELLO SPENT CLOSE TO 40 YEARS AS AN EDUCATOR AND DEVELOPED ANTIBIAS PROGRAMMING FOR CLASSROOMS, SCHOOLS AND SCHOOL DISTRICTS.

COSTELLO IS ALSO THE DIRECTOR OF TEACHING TOLERANCE FOR THE SOUTHERN POVERTY LAW CENTER AND WAS A LEADER FOR THE STUDY SHE SAYS EXPOSES THE NEED FOR A MORE COMPREHENSIVE FRAMEWORK FOR TEACHING STUDENTS ABOUT SLAVERY.

>> I ASKED SOME OF MY FORMER STUDENTS WHAT THEY REMEMBERED ABOUT HOW THEY LEARNED ABOUT SLAVERY.

I TAUGHT IN A WHITE MAJORITY SCHOOL SO IN EVERY CLASS THERE WOULD BE A HANDFUL OF AFRICAN-AMERICAN STUDENTS AND MANY SAID YOU DID THE BEST YOU COULD BUT THE ENTIRE EXPERIENCE OF LEARNING ABOUT AMERICAN HISTORY IN SCHOOL WAS THAT IT WAS WHITEWASHED.

AND ONE SAID I LEARNED A LOT ABOUT SLAVERY BUT I LEARNED OVER THE DINNER TABLE AT HOME.

>> RESEARCHERS SURVEYED TEACHERS AND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

THEIR FINDINGS REVEALED TEACHERS FEEL COMFORTABLE TEACHING THE HISTORY OF SLAVERY BUT THEY OFTENTIMES REQUIRE BETTER SOURCE MATERIAL TO SUPPORT THEIR WORK.

>> THE TEXTBOOKS ARE PROBLEMATIC BECAUSE FIRST OF ALL, THAT'S WHAT TEACHERS HAVE.

IT IS THE BASIC PIECE OF INFORMATION.

AND SURE THEY CAN FIND OTHER SOURCES OF INFORMATION.

BUT THEN THERE IS A BURDEN TO SIFT THROUGH IT ALL.

FINALLY WE LOOKED AT STATE STANDARDS AND FOUND THAT KIDS OFTEN LEARN ABOUT HARRIET TUBMAN AND FREDRICK DOUGLASS IN FIRST GRADE OR KINDERGARTEN.

BUT THEY DON'T LEARN ABOUT SLAVERY ITSELF UNTIL FOURTH OR FIFTH GRADE.

>> THE STUDY FOUND A LACK OF KNOWLEDGE AMONG HIGH SCHOOL FUTURES.

FEWER THAN 10% COULD IDENTIFY THE CAUSE OF THE CIVIL WAR.

70% DID NOT KNOW AN AMENDMENT FORMALLY ENDED SLAVERY.

ONLY 20% OF STUDENTS KNEW THE CONSTITUTION GAVE ADVANTAGES TO SLAVE HOLDERS.

COSTELLO ARGUES BEFORE SLAVERY CAN BE TAUGHT IT MUST BE APPROPRIATELY DEFINED.

>> UNDERSTAND THE BACKGROUND.

SLAVERY WAS PRACTICED AROUND THE WORLD.

BUT SLAVERY AS IT DEVELOPED WHAT BECAME THE UNITED STATES WAS A VERY DISTINCTIVE AND PECULIAR FORM OF SLAVERY THAT WE CALL CHATTLE SLAVERY THAT WAS HEREDITARY.

AND RACISM GREW UP TO DEFEND SLAVERY.

IF WE TALK ABOUT THE RACIAL DIVISIONS THAT WE STILL EXPERIENCE TODAY, INCLUDING THE RACIAL INEQUALITIES THAT ALL LEADS BACK TO TALKING ABOUT SLAVERY.

AND THAT IS WHY WE NEED TO TEACH IT.

>> COSTELLO BELIEVES UNDERSTANDING THE REPERCUSSIONS OF SLAVERY AND ITS CONNECTION TO RACISM MAY HELP UNDO THE RACIAL DIVIDE.

>> ONE OF THE THINGS WE SAY IS THAT THE TWO GREW UP TOGETHER.

RACISM AND ENSLAVEMENT: WE ENDED ENSLAVEMENT LEGALLY.

WE DID NOT END RACISM.

ONE OF THE TEACHERS SAID LOOK, YOU DON'T HAVE TO FEEL GUILTY ABOUT THIS.

THIS ISN'T ON YOU.

YOU INHERITED THIS.

YOU INHERITED THIS RACISM.

IT'S NOT ON YOU.

BUT IF IT IS STILL HERE IN 20 YEARS THAT IS ON YOU.

SO WE TEACH ABOUT THE PAST SO PEOPLE ARE BETTER ABLE TO MAKE CHOICES ABOUT THE PRESENT AND THE FUTURE.

>> SO I REMEMBER AFRICAN HISTORY AND AFRICAN-AMERICAN HISTORY CLASSES STARTED SPRINGING UP IN COLLEGE IN THE 70s.

WHY IS IT NOT -- WHY IS THERE THAT GAP IN GRADE SCHOOLS?

>> I DON'T BELIEVE THERE IS A DESIRE IN THIS COUNTRY TO TEACH THE TRUTH ABOUT HISTORY.

THERE IS A -- >> DOESN'T THAT DEPEND ON PART OF THE COUNTRY?

THAT IS ABSOLUTELY TRUE IN THE SOUTH.

>> I BELIEVE IT'S TRUE IN THE NORTH AND THE SOUTH AND THE EAST AND THE WEST EVERY CORNER IN THE COUNTRY AND THAT IS WHY WE ARE SEEING THE PROBLEM WE ARE HAVING.

WHEN SHE MENTIONS THAT PEOPLE ARE NOT MAKING THE LINK BETWEEN SLAVERY AND THE CAUSE OF CIVIL WAR WHEN PEOPLE ARE NOT MAKING THE LINK BETWEEN ALL OF THE BUILDINGS IN THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OF THIS COUNTRY AND CENTURIES OF FREE LABOR THAT IS INTENTIONAL INDOCTRINATION INSTEAD OF EDUCATION.

>> YOUR THOUGHTS?

>> I THINK WHAT IS HALLING -- >> IS IT CAUSING RACISM TODAY?

>> YES, I THINK IT IS IN THE CONTEXT OF EDUCATION WE ARE SEEING INCOMPLETE INFORMATION.

WHAT IS HAPPENING THAT STUDENTS ARE GOING TO SCHOOL AND GETTING PART OF THE STORY.

YOU TALK ABOUT CIVIL RIGHTS BUT NOT SLAVERY.

YOU TALK ABOUT HARRIET TUBMAN BUT YOU DO NOT TALK ABOUT THE CONSTITUTION AND THE LIMITATION ON SLAVERY.

A LOT IS MAKING THAT CONNECTION AND SO THEY UNDERSTAND THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF AFRICAN-AMERICANS IN SOCIETY AS OPPOSED TO SEE TO GO THROUGH THE LENS OF THESE BUCKETS AND I AGREE HISTORY IS WHITEWASHED THROUGH THE LENS OF THE FACT THAT WE DON'T TALK ABOUT THE JAPANESE INTERNMENT AND SLAVERY AT ANY LEVEL THAT WE SHOULD BEFORE COLLEGE.

>> AND IS IT JUST SLAVERY WE DON'T TALK ABOUT?

BUT WHAT ABOUT WHAT HAS HAPPENED SINCE SLAVERY?

IN OTHER WORDS THAT REALLY AFRICAN-AMERICANS MAY NOT HAVE BEEN SLAVES BUT THEY WERE PAID SLAVE WAGES UNTIL THE MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. AND UNTIL A CENTURY LATER THAN THE ACTUAL END OF SLAVERY.

>> I BELIEVE WE SHOULD HAVE A SLAVERY EDUCATION MUSEUM ON THE NATIONAL MALL.

WE HAVE MONUMENT TO A LOT OF HARD HISTORY POINTS THAT DON'T REFLECT A VERY, VERY CRITICAL POINT IN OUR HISTORY THAT PLAYS THROUGHOUT OUR LIVES EVERYDAY.

>> AND YOU DON'T THINK THE AFRICAN-AMERICAN HISTORY MUSEUM OF BLACK HISTORY AND CULTURE THAT OPENED UP A COUPLE YEARS AGO THAT IS NOT YOU THINK YOU NEED ONE JUST DEVOTED TO SLAVERY?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

AND I THINK THERE NEEDS TO BE ALL OVER THE COUNTRY NEEDS TO BE MONUMENT AND TESTAMENT TO THE EXPERIENCES AND THE HISTORY OF SLAVERY ACROSS THE SOUTH AND OTHER PLACES THAT WERE DIRECTLY IMPACTED.

BUT IT'S A HIDDEN TRUTH.

IT'S SOMETHING WE HEAR ABOUT IT'S ON PAGE 25 OF OUR TEXTBOOKS OF CHILDREN.

AND THEN WE SWALLOW IT AND KEEP MOVING ON BUT THERE IS NO -- IT'S WE NEED TO BE PAST IT.

WE ARE PAST IT SO CAN'T WE MOVE ON AND THAT REFLECTS HOW WE LEARN AND WHAT WE TELL OUR KIDS.

AND A LOT OF GENERATIONS PAST THEN DO NOT HAVE THE TOOLS TO TALK WITH THEIR KIDS ABOUT IT EVEN IF THEY WANT TO.

ARE THERE PEOPLE THAT WANT TO DO IT.

NOBODY HAS THE TOOLS TO DO IT.

THEY DO NOT EXIST AND WE HAVE BEEN AS YOU SAID, EFFECTIVELY WIPING TRYING HARD NOT SUCCESSFULLY TO WIPE THIS OFF OF OUR BOOKS.

>> I THINK IT'S FASCINATING WHEN YOU COMPARE GERMANY AND HOW CHILDREN ARE TAUGHT ABOUT THE HOLOCAUST AND GRUESOME DETAILS OF THE LOSS OF LIFE AND MAYBE THAT IS A LESSON THAT NEEDS TO BE TAUGHT IN THE UNITED STATES.

>> THEY ARE TAUGHT IN POLAND, TOO, EXCEPT THEY ARE STARTING TO STOP TEACH TO GO.

THEY ARE STARTING TO STOP MENTION OF THE HOLOCAUST AND SOME OF THE WORST CONCENTRATION CAMPS WERE IN POLAND.

>> AND THAT IS POLITICAL CORRECTNESS PART OF THE CONVERSATION.

WHEN WE LOOK AT THE EDUCATION THERE IS A RUSH TO GET THROUGH EVERYTHING AND CRAM DOWN SO MUCH INFORMATION IT'S HARD TO DO THE DEEP DIVES INTO SLAVERY AND MAKING THE CONNECTIONS.

THAT IS FOR OUR EDUCATION SYSTEM TO THINK ABOUT SYSTEMICALLY PRESENTING THE IDEAS RATHER THAN A TIME LINE WITH NO CONNECTIONS.

>> MONTANA HAD TO PASS A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT TO ENCOURAGE THE CURRICULUM CHANGES AROUND NATIVE-AMERICANS.

THEY FELT THEIR POPULATION HAS A RICH HISTORY THEY NEEDED TO SHARE THAT AND THEY WANTED TO MAKE IT PART OF THE CURRICULUM.

I DON'T KNOW WE ARE AT A PLACE WE HAVE BLACK HISTORY MONTH BUT WE NEED TO FIND A BETTER WHERE NOT TO HAVE THIS BE A MONTHLY THING, BUT HAVE IT EMBEDDED INTO THE CURRICULUM IN A THOUGHTFUL WAY.

>> WHO SHOULD BE WRITING THE MATERIALS FOR SCHOOLS?

SHOULD WHITE PEOPLE BE WRITING THIS HISTORY?

OR SHOULD IT BE -- >> YES, EVERYONE.

CERTAINLY BLACK PEOPLE.

SURE.

BUT I THINK YOU WANT TO HAVE DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES REPRESENTED.

EACH PERSON WILL SEE SOMETHING DIFFERENTLY HOW THE STORY IS PRESENTED.

>> AND WHAT IS INTERESTING, TOO AND IT COMES OUT YOU MENTIONED THE AFRICAN-AMERICAN MUSEUM OF HISTORY AND CULTURE ON THE MALL, AND VISITING THERE AND SEEING SO MANY OTHER AFRICAN-AMERICAN FAMILIES VISITING AT THE SAME TIME AND SO MANY MULTIGENERATIONS WE ARE AT A PIVOTAL MOMENT WHERE WE HAVE.

MY GREAT GRANDMOTHER COULD TALK ABOUT HER GRANDFATHER BEING A SLAVE.

WE ARE LOSING THAT GENERATION WHO CAN EVEN DOCUMENT THOSE STORIES AND THE ORAL HISTORIANS ARE AT LOSS AS WELL.

>> I WANT TO TELL YOU HAVING GONE THROUGH ALL THE WPA INTERVIEWS WITH SLAVES FREED SLAVES IN THE 1930s, THAT THE ROOSEVELT ADMINISTRATION DID ALL THEY TALK ABOUT IS RELATIVELY POSITIVE STUFF.

THEY WERE CLEARLY AFRAID BECAUSE THEY WERE BEING INTERVIEWED BY WHITE PEOPLE AND THAT IS WHY I ASKED THE QUESTION ABOUT WHO SHOULD WRITE THE HISTORY, BECAUSE THEY NEVER TALKED ABOUT MY MASTER BEAT ME, HE RAPED ME.

WHATEVER IT WAS.

AND THAT IS SO CLEARLY DOCUMENTED THROUGHOUT THE HISTORY OF SLAVERY.

>> RIGHT.

AND WE ARE MISSING AN OPPORTUNITY IF WE HAVE THE ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY PROVIDING YOUNG PEOPLE ON WHAT SLAVERY LOOKS LIKE.

WHETHER THEY ARE POSITIVE MOVIES OR NOT DOCUMENTARIES OR FILMS.

AND THAT IS THE EXPOSURE LEVEL.

ON THE FRONT WHO TEACHES THE INFORMATION WE NEED TO MAKE A CONCERTED EFFORT TO HAVE MORE AFRICAN-AMERICANS INVOLVED IN TEACHING AN EDUCATION BECAUSE WE HAVE 82% OF TEACHERS ARE WHITE.

AND I THINK THAT IS ALSO LIMITING OUR ABILITY TO HAVE INTERESTING DIALOGUE.

>> FOLLOW ME ON TWITTER AND VISIT OUR WEBSITE, PBS.ORG/TOTHECONTRARY.

AND WHETHER YOU AGREE OR THINK TO THE CONTRARY, SEE YOU NEXT WEEK.

TRANSCRIPT OR TO SEE AN ON-LINE VERSION OF THIS EPISODE OF TO THE CONTRARY VISIT OUR WEBSITE AT PBS.ORG/TOTHECONTRARY [♪♪]