Final answer:
It is false that black people have always been part of the 'historical mainstream' in American education. Segregation and omissions in the curriculum have historically marginalized the contributions and experiences of African Americans, and the colonizationist scheme of the early 1800s was unpopular among black abolitionists.
Step-by-step explanation:
The assertion that black people have always been regarded as part of the "historical mainstream" in American education is false. For much of American history, the educational system was segregated, and the curriculum often omitted or misrepresented the contributions and experiences of African Americans. Despite the significant presence and contributions of Black individuals throughout American history, their stories have historically been marginalized or neglected in mainstream education. The colonizationist scheme discussed suggests that during the early 1800s, there was a movement to colonize free African Americans outside the United States, which was not widely embraced by black abolitionists, rendering it false.
Throughout the 19th and 20th centuries, there were systemic barriers to equal education for African Americans, including segregated schools and a lack of resources compared to white schools. Faculty was often segregated, and many teachers in predominantly black schools lacked the same level of teaching experience as their counterparts in white schools. Furthermore, local instances of racial violence and segregation were prevalent, even in Northern and Midwestern states that were not explicitly considered part of the segregated South. The history of racial discrimination in education has had long-lasting impacts on the opportunities available to African Americans, which have continued to affect their ability to pursue and succeed in higher education.