Teachers In Trouble Over Black History Month Posters
by Big Dog on Mar 4, 2010 at 18:02 Political
Three teachers in Los Angeles are in trouble after they gave posters of Dennis Rodman, RuPaul and OJ Simpson for kids to carry in a Black History Month parade. Evidently, some black people are not as appropriate as others:
Children from other classes at the school displayed photos of more appropriate black role models, such as Nelson Mandela, Harriet Tubman and President Obama, Los Angeles Unified School District spokeswoman Gayle Pollard-Terry said. New York Daily News
I understand the apprehension over all this. OJ Simpson was accused of murder and was only found not guilty because they were able to find the only 12 people in the world who thought he did not do it. He is now in jail for using a gun to get back his belongings. Simpson though, was a great athlete before his troubles.
Dennis Rodman is just a weird person though he has had his troubles. But he too was a great athlete.
The article states there were posters of Michael Jackson and though Jackson was a great singer and extremely talented he was not without his legal troubles which involved sexual molestation of children.
Why is it that Jackson is appropriate and Simpson and Rodman are not?
[note]The NAACP honored Johnnie Cochran for the skill he used to defend Simpson. The indication was that it was OK to use race as an issue. In other words, Simpson was the victim.[/note]
What I am most perplexed about is the idea that RuPaul is a problem. RuPaul Charles is a guy who happens to be a drag queen. He has been very successful with this career and has his own show. RuPaul is also a singer who has recorded songs and music videos. What about RuPaul makes him an inappropriate choice?
Is it because RuPaul, when in drag, is a pretty good looking “lady” and the other women were jealous?
I though that the schools were all about diversity. I can understand the reluctance over Simpson and Rodman (though the inclusion of Jackson pretty much negates the issue) but I can’t understand why RuPaul is a problem, especially among folks who are supposed to be big on diversity.
The other thing that I want to know is did the teachers pick the person on the poster or did the children.
In any event, this seems like much ado about nothing.
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Tags: black history month, michael jackson, rodman, rupaul, simpson
My beef is with the enveloping concept. There’s no “Black History,” as if the deeds and travails of American Negroes could somehow be separated from the history of the country “at large.” There’s only history: who did what, when, and to whom, and who suffered the consequences. The notion of “black history,” “women’s history,” “gay history,” and so forth is a left-wing construct designed to compel Americans to grant exaggerated respect to persons on the basis of their race and nothing else.
What makes this irresistibly laughable is that the Left will immediately jump down your throat if you introduce any suggestion that there are objective differences among the races. “Race” is to be used to inflict guilt on white Americans, and for no other reason!
I have to say Porretto’s complaint about black history is, as he puts it…irresistibly laughable.
The roots of black history month for instance go back to black history week which was the dream child of an African American historian who felt that black contributions to history had gone unnoticed or ignored and wanted to raise awareness. This was not some left-wing construct to grant exaggerated respect but rather an attempt by this historian to give black history the respect it deserved but was not getting.
There is no end to the irony of a pinky like Porretto railing against the celebration of black cultural icons and African American history and pretending that American historians and scholars in our country have always treated non-anglo history and achievements as equal to that of anglo history and achievements.
As for the topic of the post I think it’s ridiculous to take them from their jobs even if they were intentionally mocking the event which may or may not be the case anyway. We already have shortages of teachers in the country. Give them a warning if there was racial insensitivity involved and let them get back to doing their jobs.
You can always count on a leftist to come along and make your point for you.
Frankly, Adam, if your education didn’t include mention of George Washington Carver, Booker T. Washington, Harriet Tubman et alii, you went to a very poor school. We didn’t ignore black contributors to the nation’s history where I was schooled. On the other hand, we didn’t try to separate their threads from the larger tapestry of history because of their race. Treating someone differently than others on account of his race is racist, you know. We understood that quite well, back when.
What’s that? I’m 58 years old. I attended primary and high school in the 50s and 60s. Perhaps your relative youth is the cause of your myopia. Or it might be your faulty education; it’s hard to tell at this distance.
“Frankly, Adam, if your education didn’t include mention of George Washington Carver, Booker T. Washington, Harriet Tubman et alii, you went to a very poor school.”
Nice try but Black History Week started in the 1920’s and was designed for a far different time than when you and I went to school. Surely you won’t suggest that in the 1920’s black history was taught in schools or respected by scholars in America. It was all about acknowledging the significance of African American contributions to our way of life and nothing more.
Now if you want to argue you think the climate in America has changed to where needing a month to focus on it is not quite necessary anymore then that’s a different thing. I’d still disagree but that would at least acknowledge reality a little. No, you’ve convinced yourself that Black History Month is a liberal conspiracy.
With that in mind I’m not sure a further rational discussion of this topic is worth it other than to continue laughing at you for your whitey ignorance.
“Treating someone differently than others on account of his race is racist, you know.”
Don’t make me laugh. Setting aside one month out of the year to focus on black historical figures and events specific to African American history in the US like the abolition of slavery or the civil rights movement is not racist or treating someone differently. That is an amazingly stupid suggestion.
Next you’ll be telling us how racist the Congressional Black Caucus is because that’s pretty much the level of your argument.
The congressional black caucus is a racist organization because it’s based on race.
If there were a white congressional caucus, heads would roll.
Evidently it’s all of a sudden wrong to be proud of being white, but ok to be proud if you’re another race.
Leftists do not use the brains God gave them.
“If there were a white congressional caucus, heads would roll.”
Oh yes, if only there were a caucus designed to help organize and empower white representatives to better represent their constituents and further legislative agendas specific to white America. That would be useful.
“Evidently it’s all of a sudden wrong to be proud of being white, but ok to be proud if you’re another race.”
Yes, we white people have such a long history of hardship in America. Is it too much to ask for that we show a little of the pride and self-respect that has gotten us through our darkest hours as a downtrodden majority?
What we need is a white history month so that we celebrate the achievements of white people and the history that has made us strong which all too often goes unnoticed or unmentioned in our schools and our media.
I am of mixed heritage and I have had it up to here with the leftists and how they think we should be treated.
Want to show your love?
Then petition your government to get our people out of cheap government housing!
Demolish it!
It’s the best thing that can be done for us!
Lord knows that you people don’t know what black people go through!
And I’m tired of those that do.
“I am of mixed heritage…”
Define mixed heritage if you can.
“…I have had it up to here with the leftists and how they think we should be treated.”
Yes, us leftists have really ruined it for minorities in America.
Accept us.
That’s all we want.
Nobody needs to bend over backwards to show us in a positive light just by highlighting our color.
My father is black, my mother is white.
What difference does my heritage make to you, Adam?
Again, a leftist focusing on a person’s color rather than what they have to say!
Thanks for showing us the model for today’s liberals, Adam!
You’ve said enough!
The leftists have ruined black people.
Research your own sordid history if you can.
“What difference does my heritage make to you, Adam? Again, a leftist focusing on a person’s color rather than what they have to say!”
Sorry, but you brought it up when you said “I am of mixed heritage” so I just asked. Get over yourself.
“Research your own sordid history if you can.”
I’ll get back to you when I figure out which sordid history you’re talking about.