Tony Edghill wants to be sure that Scotland youth are learning about their history.

Edghill runs the Scotland Community Center and is showing the youth movies that focus on the black experience.

“I want them to see what their ancestors went through, what they are going through, and what the future holds,” Edghill said.

On weekdays in February, the children gather and watch a variety of movies. So far, they’ve seen “Africans in America” and “Roots.” This week and next, they will be watching “Eyes on the Prize.” “It deals with the civil rights struggle,” Edghill said.

The students will also take trips to the Sandy Spring Museum and learn about other aspects of black history in Maryland.

Some of the children watching “Roots” were learning about slavery for the first time. “I didn’t know about slavery,” said Elyiah Parker, 8. “If they ran away, they would get whipped,” said Kevin Ellis, 7.

Even though the material may be difficult for younger children to understand, the dozen or so who come to watch the movies each day are entranced. “They’re interested. They’re watching it and they’re enjoying it,” Edghill said.

THIS WEEK’S MOVIE, “Eyes on the Prize,” will be particularly relevant for some. It deals with the civil right struggle in the 1960s.

“Their grandmothers and grandfathers can attest to it,” Edghill said. He thinks these children are learning an important lesson while watching these movies. “The rights that you have now, a lot of people died for. They need to understand that connection, and I think they’re getting it,” Edghill said.

“I want to learn about people who were involved in the civil rights struggle,” said Naairah Parker, 10.

According to Edghill, the children are not really getting a substantial exposure to black history – or the histories of other minority groups -- in school. “I think it still needs to be more inclusive,” Edghill said, though acknowledging the difficulties inherent in teaching. “I think it’s hard for a teacher – They’d have to expand the curriculum.”