Now, lessons on African American history aren’t going to start with slavery. Shifting the perspective was the main priority of the Virginia African American History Education Commission when it started in 2019. It was a wonderful collaboration of individuals all committed to really looking at our African American history through a different lens,” Edwards said. “For example, in Virginia history there was a greater emphasis on the great migration. The goal of the edits were to weave in African American history into American history instead of it being separate like it is in some cases during Black History Month.