Listen to this article
Download AudioFloridian Teaches Black History Under FIU Tree
Marvin Dunn Black History: Learning Unfiltered Truths
By Darius Spearman (africanelements)
Support African Elements at patreon.com/africanelements and hear recent news in a single playlist. Additionally, you can gain early access to ad-free video content.
The Black History Tree FIU: Roots of Resistance
In Florida, where discussions about race and history face increasing restrictions, Dr. Marvin Dunn is taking education back to its roots. A former professor at Florida International University (FIU), Dunn now leads free Black history classes outdoors, beneath the shade of a designated “Black History Tree” on campus (Former Professor Teaches Non-Whitewashed Black History Under A Tree At Florida International University). This unique setting is deeply symbolic. It evokes a time when our ancestors gathered in open spaces, sometimes secretly in hush harbors, to share knowledge and preserve cultural identity away from the controlling eyes of oppressors (Disrupting Whiteness in Curriculum History).
The choice of a tree is powerfully resonant within Black history. Trees have been sites of community gathering and spiritual significance, but also tragic sites of racial terror like lynchings. Dunn reclaims this space, transforming it into a place of learning and empowerment (Former FIU Professor Teaches Black History Under A Tree). His “Black History Learning Tree” initiative serves as both a literal classroom and a potent metaphor. Consequently, it stands for the preservation of narratives often marginalized or completely erased from mainstream education systems.
Defining Whitewashed Curricula
Whitewashed curricula refers to educational materials and teaching approaches that minimize, distort, or erase the histories, contributions, and perspectives of non-white people, particularly Black communities.
- Prioritizes European narratives and achievements.
- Sanitizes or omits colonial violence and systemic racism (Signs Your Child’s Curriculum Has Been Whitewashed).
- Marginalizes the contributions and experiences of people of color (Disrupting Whiteness in Curriculum History).
- Often frames racialized groups solely through struggles, ignoring holistic histories and resistance (Signs Your Child’s Curriculum Has Been Whitewashed).
Marvin Dunn Black History: Telling It Correctly
Dr. Dunn, a respected historian and activist, created this initiative as a direct response to what he sees as the whitewashing of Black history within formal education (Former Professor Teaches Non-Whitewashed Black History Under A Tree At Florida International University). He intentionally avoids sanitizing difficult truths. For instance, Dunn ensures that traumatic events like the 1923 Rosewood Massacre are discussed accurately, without bowing to political pressure or discomfort (Telling Our History Correctly: Activist Hosts Black History Class Under a Tree at FIU). This commitment to unfiltered narratives is especially crucial in Florida’s current climate.
State policies like the “Stop WOKE Act” actively restrict how educators can discuss systemic racism and historical injustices. These laws distort events like the Rosewood Massacre and downplay the brutality of slavery, often framing racial violence inaccurately or omitting the systemic nature of oppression (Whitewashing History – LDAD). Dunn’s work directly challenges these state-mandated limitations. Therefore, he provides a space where the Black experience can be explored honestly and fully, acknowledging both triumphs and traumas.
The Rosewood Massacre (1923)
Rosewood Massacre: A week-long, racially motivated attack on the predominantly Black town of Rosewood, Florida, in January 1923.
White mobs, spurred by unsubstantiated accusations against a Black man, descended on the town, burning nearly every structure to the ground. They murdered residents and forced survivors to flee permanently, effectively erasing the community (Whitewashing History – LDAD). This event exemplifies the brutal reality of state-sanctioned racial terror in American history. Furthermore, its frequent minimization or omission in official curricula highlights the need for initiatives like Dr. Dunn’s that insist on telling the complete story.
Community Black Education: Grassroots Power
Dr. Dunn’s initiative represents a powerful example of community Black education in action. It stands in contrast to institutional academia, which often relies on standardized, Eurocentric curricula and pedagogical methods that may not adequately address or critique systemic racism (A Whitewashed Curriculum? The Construction of Race in Contemporary PE Curriculum Policy; Disrupting Whiteness in Curriculum History). Grassroots efforts like the Learning Tree prioritize accessibility and authenticity. Indeed, they create decentralized, community-driven spaces where marginalized histories are centered (Former Professor Teaches Non-Whitewashed Black History Under A Tree At Florida International University; Editorial: Wipe out whitewashing in California curriculum).
This approach combines the power of physical gathering with modern visibility. While classes happen in person under the tree, Dr. Dunn also utilizes social media to share the initiative’s work. An Instagram post from April 4, 2025, documented a session and garnered public engagement, showing how these grassroots efforts reach beyond the immediate participants (Teaching under the Black History Tree at Florida International University yesterday). Ultimately, Dunn’s activism connects to broader movements challenging educational inequities and fighting for the right to teach and learn comprehensive, truthful histories in Florida and beyond (Telling Our History Correctly: Activist Hosts Black History Class Under a Tree at FIU).
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Darius Spearman is a professor of Black Studies at San Diego City College, where he has been teaching since 2007. He is the author of several books, including Between The Color Lines: A History of African Americans on the California Frontier Through 1890. You can visit Darius online at africanelements.org.
Black History Tree Social Media Snapshot