John, by accident, you have stumbled into someone who was a community college English teacher for 20 years and who has written extensively for educational publishers (you can Google me and see the titles, doubt ya will tho). I created an assignment for students called "Famous (Not) People." The inspiration for the assignment was, I was sitting at home grading papers one day with the TV on. A show called "Percy Julian: Forgotten Genius" came on. Not only was this a fascinating and well-made program, I got to the end and was like, "How is it possible I never heard of this guy?" It dawned on me that what I had learned in school was pretty limited. That was in 2005 or so, it was before my baby died. I had extremely diverse classrooms in Southern California, and I've also documented and written about how we had excellent learning experiences - the point of our classes was to teach students how to research and write good college papers and other assignments. So, the desire to learn was #1, and the work steps to get to that point were #2. The Famous (Not) people changed every semester. But some remained on the list of 35, always - like Percy Julian. What you are stating about "economic opportunity" really doesn't have to do with teaching true history in US schools. Those of us in older generations had many facts concealed, from the origin of Buffalo Bill's name which would shock and upset anybody today but which was apparently admired at the time - much like slavery was justified due to many different sophistic, untrue arguments from phrenology to the "Bell Curve" Black people are dumber guy. This nation has a lot to be ashamed of, as do many other world nations and cultures. I also know from experience, most students find history boring - they enjoy learning on their own. From the "Asian" not famous people you can look up Wu Zetian or or Kenichi Fukui. I imagine you have never heard of Stephanie Kwolek, either. Or maybe, not even Ibn Sina (Avicenna). I quit letting students do him because he is so very famous in Persia (Iran). It isn't about you telling others what to do or think. It's about providing opportunity. To learn. I believe that Black Americans are "clamoring" as you say for true history (not "theirs" - as in "the truth" and not avoidance or lies) to be taught for the same reason as I was stunned to learn that historians have discovered the truth about what my mother did as an animation art director. Do you see from what I have written, that I have more knowledge than you and experience to understand? Think about your priorities, that you feel there is something wrong with true history being included after so many years of cover ups and lies. The motive for these cover ups and lies is to continue some people getting all the $$, others - none.
