All segments of history are relevant

To the editor:

Angela DaSilva came to Cape Girardeau to speak on Missouri's black history and made a number of good points from what I can ascertain from your article. African Americans' contributions and tribulations in our history went without notice for far too long. But that history is our history, our American history. When I taught at Chaffey College here in Southern California, I was encouraged by the chair of the department to teach about women's history, black history, Native American history and Latino history. Instead, I taught American history and the contributions all these groups made to this country. To segregate history will also segregate this country. I see this mentality every day in Southern California. The end result is segregated enclaves of people and thinking.

The fact remains, until American high school and college students are required to take a greater number of American history and government classes, the history of all Americans will begin to fade like a dim memory.

BILL GREEN, San Bernardino, Calif.