What is wrong with History in Texas?

Have you heard about what's going on here in Texas? History is being rewritten. And not in a good way.The state of Texas sets national standards for school textbooks -- and on Friday, the State Board of Education is casting its vote on updated social studies and history textbooks.

Those books are changing the record on slavery, celebrating the Confederacy and shedding a positive light on Jim Crow laws. And the Texas NAACP has spent the past several months fighting back. We've written thousands of emails, placed hundreds of calls, and people are starting to notice.I'm writing because we need your help. No matter the result of tomorrow's vote, make sure these bad ideas don't spread into your state. Sign the Not in My State Pledge:http://action.naacp.org/NotInMyState

The civil rights era was, and remains, one of the most significant and defining moments in U.S. history. Its leaders were true patriots -- fighting against oppression and for equality.

But if the proposed textbook changes happen, our children won't learn about them. They won't learn about brave men like Sam McCollough, who gave his life for Texas independence. And they won't learn that Texas seceded from the Union to fight for the Confederacy in the Civil War.

Rewriting history in the name of national pride isn't patriotic. It's ignorant.

Make it known throughout your state that if Texas textbook standards pass, they won't be coming into your classrooms.

Sign the Not in My State Pledge to stop history from being rewritten:http://action.naacp.org/NotInMyStateAmerican history -- the good, the bad and the ugly -- is what makes our country what it is today. A reminder of that past helps ensure a better future for all of us.Thank you for speaking out

Gary Bledsoe
Texas President
NAACP

P.S. To find out the voting results and watch an interview with NAACP President, Benjamin