Black history seems something of a mystery even to so-called 'professionals'. One of my funniest memories is the diversity training I participated in on joining our local council workforce. The presenter started out by saying "There have been people from Africa living in the UK since the 1500's" I put my hand up and asked "So you're not including Phoenician traders, the Roman Auxiliaries, or the hundreds of ordinary sailors that lived, worked , and married local people before that time then"? The presenter had to admit she didn't. She didn't even know about Septimius Severus who was Roman Emperor from 193–211, and who died in what is now Scotland while trying to extend the Empire into Pictish territory. A key part of his force was a group of crack troops from Africa Skilled in cavalry techniques.
As the seminar continued it became clear that it was based on a script from the 1970's and never been revised to take into account the advances in archaeology and access to historical paperwork that the internet and greater general education now provides. I did my best to elaborate on some of it for the presenter, but all it did was seem to stress her as it wasn't what she had been taught.
Exactly what are they covering in the U.S. on this subject then?