Lakewood, Colo. – Target has removed a book from its Black History Month collection after a teacher discovered it mislabeled three prominent Civil Rights icons. Issa Tete, a U.S. history teacher, found the discrepancies in the “Civil Rights Magnetic Learning Kit” and posted a video about it on TikTok. The book incorrectly labeled W.E.B. Du Bois as Carter G. Woodson, Woodson as Booker T. Washington, and Washington as Du Bois.
Tete’s viral video, which has been viewed over 850,000 times, called for the product to be pulled off the shelves immediately. She expressed concern for her students and her own children, stating she was not going to let it slide.
In response to the social media outcry, Target announced that it will no longer sell the product in stores or online and has informed the book’s publisher, Bendon Publishing, of the errors. However, Bendon Publishing did not immediately respond to NPR’s request for comment.
Black History Month, celebrated in February in the United States and Canada, and in October in the United Kingdom, seeks to honor the contributions and sacrifices of African Americans. The tradition dates back to 1926, when Woodson, often referred to as the “father of Black history,” established Negro History Week to spotlight Black achievements.
The month-long commemoration aims to recognize the significant contributions that African Americans have made to society. Despite the mislabeled book incident, the annual tradition remains a vital part of celebrating Black history and culture.