This may be old news to some of you.
Not far from a birthplace of the Black Lives Matter movement, a school district convulses after Black history and literature classes are canceled.
RemoveBlackHistoryCourses
By a vote of 5 to 2, at the December 2023 meeting, my local school board voted to remove high school elective courses in Black History and Literature. The opponents of these classes claimed that they “promoted Marxism” and supported “social justice activism” like that’s a bad thing. Thank goodness two of the board are righteous people. The others were elected in recent years on a maga platform, foaming at the mouth that Critical Race Theory would be taught in our schools.
Protests over this action were intense. I was proud of our high school students who took the lead in protesting this obvious racism. On March 21, 2024, the school board voted to reinstate the Black history and literature classes. The course curriculum materials were changed to placate the butt hurt folks who had demanded the classes be forever thrown into the void.
Reinstatement
I often hear, and read on social media platforms like this one, that racism will go away when the older generation dies off, never to be heard from again. Sadly, no. Evidence of this was once more brought to my attention when I was walking my dog. Daily, my loyal hound and I walk a few miles in local parks. Some graffiti written on a dark green picnic table in white (of course) chalk got my attention. It said:
Fuck black people
KKK
with a drawing of a penis plus balls
It looked very much like a misguided young person did this vandalism, which is also hate speech. It’s doubtful he or she will ever get caught.
Having taught in this community for twenty years, I have had a lot of conversations with students. . Many spewed garbage heard at home from their families. You know, folks that listen to right wing talk radio all day and watch Faux Newz all evening. It’s cultural and generational brainwashing.
I have engaged in GOTV activities this spring, as I have in previous years, to promote school board candidates who are of a Progressive mindset. The election is next Tuesday. Lets hope the good people of the district will take time to vote. I have spoken to many people who are tired of and frustrated by having a school board that makes national news for embarrassing reasons! For these odd-month elections, the turnout usually is pretty low. If you are a praying person, please send some prayers and positive vibes our way.