Crazy Talk: 'Animal Print' for Black History

If you've ever wondered how so many people can make it to adulthood with their deep-seated ignorance about the African-American experience intact, this story about one school's embarrassingly off-the-mark celebration of Black History Month could provide a hint.

Someone made such a sincere effort to pull Western Union Elementary's Black History Day event -- but was so sadly misguided -- that we just had to laugh: Instead of focusing on the legacy of African Americans in the United States, this school opted to encourage its students to dress in attire inspired by animals on the African continent.

That's right; a letter sent home asked students to wear "African-American attire" or "animal print" for the event. The letter also suggested wearing "shirts with animals native to Africa," like zebras, lions, giraffes and elephants.

The school apologized for the "wording," but the confusion seems to go a little deeper than that -- starting with a mix-up about the difference between what it means to honor African-American people, African people and wild game.

Our advice: The next time you're debating reading a book about Frederick Douglass during February or wearing a sweatshirt with a zebra on it, you probably want to just go with the book. And save the animal print for the unit on wildlife.

Read more at the Huffington Post.

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