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WBEZ Chicago, it's This American

0:41

Life. I'm a manual very in for Ira

0:43

Glass. So today

0:45

show starts with an email that was sent in the

0:47

summer of Twenty from man

0:49

named Dr James Whitfield. And

0:52

if you remember that summer everyone

0:54

was sending our emails and tweets about

0:56

race and racism in America statements,

0:59

of unity from corporations When

1:01

she ran tweeted, "We're not asking

1:04

you to buy our shoes, we are asking

1:06

you to walk and some announces" The

1:09

number one everyone on Instagram posted

1:11

black squares her day to show solidarity

1:13

with the black community. I'd started

1:15

to roll my eyes and all that mlk

1:18

and baldwin class. The

1:20

murder of George Boyd had forced the country and

1:22

to another racial awakening. In

1:24

school district outside Dallas, Texas,

1:27

doctor James Whitfield had just been promoted

1:29

to high school principal, the school's first

1:31

black principle. Watching everyone

1:34

send out these emails, such as corporate

1:36

brands, but also his peers, other educators

1:38

and administrators, "I've been up

1:40

pretty much all night, could not sleep in,

1:43

I woke up at four thirty in the morning and

1:46

said have to craft something"

1:49

The emails started by talking about the killings

1:51

of George Boyd, a mod Aubrey and

1:53

Brianna Taylor, and how these events have

1:55

brought forth the familiar enemy of racism

1:58

in America. The out. For

2:00

so long these atrocities have occurred

2:02

and we simply moved on with our daily lives

2:05

now, it appears as though we are collectively

2:07

using our voice to denounce systemic racism

2:10

and that inequities that people of color face

2:13

and daily basis and our country. He

2:16

goes on to right from personal perspective

2:18

of black man who grew up in taxes

2:21

he. writes I will be forty two

2:23

years old next month and never in my

2:25

life have experienced this level of support

2:27

and it comes to issues of race or. cannot

2:30

begin to tell you how encouraging and has

2:32

been have so many of my white brothers

2:34

and sisters, but the status quo by

2:36

calling texting unashamedly

2:38

saying that black lace do indeed matter.

2:41

He continued.

2:43

I'm here with you to do whatever

2:45

we need a do to disrupt. The

2:47

mic racism or in eradicate

2:49

it.

2:50

Whitfield, enter the email and the way he ends many

2:52

of his emails and messages. They telling

2:55

people he loves them dearly which.

2:57

is kind of who he is approachable

2:59

warm approachable beloved figure a

3:01

cardigan wearing dad People

3:04

appreciated the email parents teachers

3:06

and students read to say thank you some

3:08

said they were ready to learn more one.

3:10

parent mentioned our freshening it was to

3:12

see school leader analysis

3:21

The Your Past Whitfield first year

3:23

since Bob and it's a tough one

3:25

because you know the pandemic sites

3:28

he made it through and, then arrived

3:31

at the summer of twenty one. it

3:33

is very different landscape from the summer

3:36

and twenty to me In fact,

3:38

the script has slipped, summer conversations

3:41

have moved from let's all try and understand

3:43

and talk about systemic racism to let's

3:46

never mentioned systemic racism.

3:49

This is especially true in Texas where

3:51

Dr Wakefield as and, texas

3:53

for the conversation is suddenly all about

3:55

banning critical race theory There

3:58

are theory, Crt. You've

4:00

probably heard about it is. way

4:02

to turret how racism is ingrained in

4:04

the american legal system and other

4:06

institutions but at this

4:09

moment see or t has become kind of

4:11

a bogeyman quick shorthand to

4:13

set on anything acknowledging racism

4:15

or even blackness That

4:17

would pass law and twenty one banning

4:20

CRT and schools. And

4:22

during the school year, Dr Wakefield heard that

4:24

some people are grumbling about him on social media,

4:27

saying he's race warrior. The

4:29

online grumblings became public at school board

4:31

meeting and July that any when resident

4:33

points to it feels email got his

4:35

email, where he basically says it seems

4:37

like are ready to talk about race as country. He

4:40

pointed to that email as proof

4:42

that he's indoctrinating students with

4:44

critical race theory. The

4:47

night out like expressed my concerns. Not

4:50

warrior myself but of many in our community.

4:52

The implementation of critical race theory artistic.

4:55

The get rid of using goals of the principle of

4:57

causal her ties with James with the. The

5:00

first made aware, Mr. With those extreme views on race.

5:03

When a concern friend of mine share with me letter,

5:05

he said the parents and students in some point

5:07

one.

5:08

The be clear in London refill does not teaching

5:10

seared he didn't propose educational

5:13

reforms in his email, he wasn't reshaping

5:16

the curriculum. He did support

5:18

an existing program at the school, I

5:20

tried to get kids into college, he wouldn't traditionally

5:22

go. The fact that add that

5:25

the program predated him. People

5:27

complained about an approving mention of the

5:29

Southern Poverty Law Center but

5:31

also that he quoted Gil Scott

5:33

Heron and an email saying the

5:35

revolution will not be televised.

5:38

And of course an email from twenty twenties

5:41

were like everyone else and twenty twenty,

5:44

he denounces systemic racism.

5:46

Later in his letter, he goes further, Mr

5:48

Dutton all members or is O'clock. The

5:51

really prefer that you don't.

5:53

The a particular employee of the district

5:55

of the if you have any issues with. That

5:58

you are. That

6:00

are. By

6:03

her.

6:04

"At the time it seemed absurd that this

6:06

would actually happen", said Dr Whitfield

6:08

would be fired. The handful of people

6:11

and. The board meeting demanding a respected

6:13

and newly hired principal be fired for

6:15

promoting an academic theory he wasn't promoting

6:18

that, seems hard to imagine. but

6:20

over the next few months that is what happened

6:24

In August, the board. Dr Wakefield

6:26

on paid administrative leave the didn't

6:28

give reason why he, talked to the

6:30

media about it. in september

6:32

doctorate tell defended himself at board meeting

6:35

one of the items on the agenda where

6:37

said the district renew whitford contract for

6:39

the next year Whitfield showed

6:41

up for the public comments and, like everyone

6:44

else, he got one minute to speak. The'and

6:46

and up to date with real doctor I board of

6:48

trustees.

6:50

A persona express my gratitude for

6:53

the love, support and encouragement

6:55

from the community. Lastly our students.

6:58

Who have regretfully? Been

7:01

criticized for their speaking up in

7:03

this matter of stand before you today,

7:05

no different. That was when

7:07

I came in and eighteen nineteen.

7:09

The twenty eighteen twenty nine teen school year

7:12

when you first hired by the district.

7:14

Narrative. Rockies or delete every student

7:16

regardless of race, religion, sexual

7:19

orientation, whatever bucket you want to put a man

7:21

I believe they all have access to eight

7:23

they should have access to. Excellent, equitable

7:26

education, yes, said, those words of

7:28

fortunately my unapologetic sense

7:30

for those things as brought us here tonight,

7:33

which is disheartening the attack from

7:35

people outside is one thing. But outright

7:37

silence a direct access against towards

7:39

me by GSt leadership to discuss

7:41

the lives of two sides on get the same. What

7:44

are absolutely heartbreaking? I can

7:46

assure you have not say them feel the same, it's

7:48

a days when you Harmonix United you promote

7:50

it me twice in three years, so I ask

7:52

you what has changed since two lights what he's saying

7:54

he's actually right? have right

8:00

The leaderboard, response

8:03

the that not to renew his contract I

8:06

reached out to the district and they said they were not going

8:08

to talk about this, but and

8:10

public statements they made earlier, they

8:12

said the decision was not based on people

8:14

calling for doctor Wait till to be fired. The

8:17

was a bunch of other reasons stuff like

8:19

insubordination a. facebook

8:21

post he wrote defending himself was not

8:23

okay with them against professional

8:25

conduct The doctor, the media,

8:28

and set filing formal complaints with the school.

8:31

They read this list at the meeting you here,

8:33

students and parents who came to her for with

8:35

Feel. Got guy. The read.

8:38

The reason for the

8:40

recommendation?

8:43

After Whitfield has diminished his effectiveness

8:45

by dividing large sections

8:47

of the community. continuing

8:50

for reading the.

8:51

With a guy it there's, fans

8:53

went on for so long she never got

8:55

to finish the statement. it said

8:57

he was dividing large sections of the community

9:00

by quote continuing to raise

9:02

issues

9:14

And what, how plan? Not

9:18

him that. email didn't change

9:22

The black squares are gone from Instagram

9:24

the random reparations money from friends gone

9:27

we. went from anti racists books crowding the

9:29

best sellers list to banning kids books

9:32

about rosa parks The

9:34

doctor Whitfield, the consequence of getting

9:36

caught in this backlash, is he's no

9:38

longer in the one place he really wants to be. When

9:41

I spoke with him in early November, he

9:43

told me he was still dropping his kit off elementary

9:46

school. High school is across

9:48

the street.

9:49

Then I mean I'll look over there

9:51

with pets at can't just not

9:54

look right as my.

9:56

wife is just like would just traveled to add a look the

9:59

other way

10:00

Can't that's

10:02

all you know, as I'm

10:04

driving by you can see, you

10:06

know down the main one

10:08

of the main hallways. Right. That you think

10:10

windows and you see right down the hallway. And so

10:12

as I'm walking by man visioning.

10:14

the different classrooms and the teachers that i would

10:16

check on every morning and you know

10:19

it's three stories and so in bhutan

10:21

the morning by the time the first bill had

10:23

rung was already was ten thousand steps rights

10:26

because i'm running around misplaced second

10:28

on teachers and saw think about that every

10:30

morning And so. Yeah,

10:33

it's around. That

10:36

is really is really hard. Who?

10:40

The pass by. The

10:42

a place that you love.

10:44

You know that there's staff members that you

10:46

love in their the. students that you

10:48

love in there and That's

10:51

you know that's where you supposed to be an,

10:55

but like. is but you're

10:57

not if you're not allowed to be in

11:00

there Right like it's

11:03

oh. Look

11:06

how person is not allowed to be in

11:08

there, you know it's own.

11:12

The certainly.

11:19

Double to say.

11:20

The about race and racism in America

11:23

it moved it's, as though we were having

11:25

one argument and then terms changed.

11:28

and that system has left many black people

11:30

exposed and vulnerable and living

11:32

with those consequences This

11:34

backlash it's not surprising this

11:36

is what America does reconstruction,

11:39

than Jim Crow. the civil rights

11:41

movement to the war on drugs obama

11:44

to trump The now it's,

11:46

unsurprising that there is backlash. for

11:49

what i am surprised by his the way people

11:51

have been caught up and tangled and at the

11:54

choices they made either further twists themselves

11:56

along the line of what's acceptable or

11:59

move away from it The way black

12:01

people have had to reconsider what to say

12:04

and the fall out that comes with his choices are.

12:07

saturday to stories of people

12:09

trying to figure out what to say or

12:11

as they should say anything in this

12:13

moment upper class They were

12:15

there.

12:28

The place that is backlash is playing

12:30

out most dramatically isn't schools.

12:32

The regular school board meetings. They've

12:35

been a lotta time watching heated school board meetings

12:37

this year. The My parents are angry

12:40

about something as small as the email, Dr

12:42

Wakefield Row. The acidic book

12:44

they don't like. Or an effort to

12:46

diversify library's collection. Sometimes

12:49

it's any resolution to promote equity in

12:51

the school. A lot of

12:53

his parents repeat the same talking points

12:55

in these meetings across the country they.

12:57

say micro aggressions are not real what

13:00

about reverse racism and somehow

13:02

martin luther king jr comes up a lot The

13:05

what is example the boil down to, as

13:07

we shouldn't be talking about racism because

13:09

it's not thing anymore. The

13:11

first thing I want to say.

13:14

The fact that traverse city is

13:16

not a racist city and, the

13:18

U. S., definitely

13:21

not racist. mentioned this is

13:23

from traverse city michigan

13:25

Ah about this brings says them will,

13:28

have been more change reason

13:30

why racism. ups

13:33

and downs for After

13:35

the ten day. The

13:37

keep on doing. What is it like to

13:39

be a kid in one of these towns? Cricket

13:41

the color, especially.

13:43

Some it other thing racism is a problem,

13:45

and other adults are saying it's not one at

13:47

all. For instance

13:49

the meeting it is heard from Traverse City what

13:51

so remarkable about this particular meeting

13:54

is. that what these parents are partially responding to

13:57

is clearly races incident in their schools

14:00

I've been talking to kid who was targeted in the

14:02

incident and sixteen year old Black Bi

14:04

racial girl named of A.I. about what

14:06

happened to her. And her story

14:08

is so much more personal and immediate,

14:11

the what you get from any of these meetings.

14:14

A quick warning this story may not be appropriate

14:16

for kids. It is. One.

14:20

The year ago no avail as a sophomore in high

14:22

school who didn't think about her blackness two

14:24

months. She lives in mostly

14:26

white house and ninety percent whites,

14:29

and yes she's often the only person of color

14:31

in given room. Including your family,

14:33

she's adopted their way. That

14:36

are journal, we're not filled with tragic, my girl

14:38

and wait and cliches. He was writing

14:40

fiction, fantasy, young adult

14:43

romance, ah, I love sex and

14:45

writing more than and.

14:45

Thing I could not write poetry or nonfiction

14:49

arm. and then i'm also really interested in psychology

14:52

and bomb i've taken my class food this

14:54

is among my second year taking it now on

14:57

i find it really interesting

14:58

When you say psychology, what is it about psychology

15:01

that like you're interested in? I

15:04

love learning about like.

15:05

Why people act the way they do in certain situations

15:09

like? the brain is cool but i'm more

15:11

on delay the behavior Oh,

15:13

psychology. There

15:15

is a self proclaimed over thinker.

15:18

The thing when you talk with her that makes

15:20

her feel both mature and young at the same

15:22

time is, that when she doesn't know something

15:24

she says she doesn't know it with such confidence

15:27

that you feel assured that some DCC will know that

15:29

thing. a year ago never

15:32

would have described her high school and her experience

15:34

there is typical

15:36

I'm in my, there are groups here and there,

15:38

but it's not like the oh you can't sit

15:40

with us or not that.

15:42

Her and not mean are also Joey now and

15:44

I like that it on the,

15:46

they had lot of friends she move in

15:48

and out of the bunch of different groups at school, and

15:51

then she had her inner. circle whenever

15:53

closest friends in that circle someone

15:55

to talk to daily or paul katie We

15:58

met in seventh grade and.

16:00

We went to the same school for a seventh

16:02

and eighth grade and so we really close and,

16:05

the ninth grade came along and I. move

16:07

schools but we still keep in contact

16:09

and we still like talked all the time

16:12

During the pandemic they would sit on face time together

16:14

and hang out Kitty, was person who

16:16

could talk know a damn and she was stressed specially

16:18

about school. they were also goofballs

16:20

together they goofballs together they mods to try

16:22

and outrageous outfits and crack each other The

16:26

research thing that happened ton of am the

16:29

thing that led to those heated school board meetings.

16:31

That happened in the spring of twenty one and.

16:34

Then it started with attacks from Katie.

16:36

And just said that she

16:38

was in this really. Like

16:41

messed up group chat with her friends are a

16:43

little late at night and I was tired so didn't

16:45

really like as. i okay

16:47

since really that bad you should leave i'm

16:49

gonna go to bed

16:50

The day I wasn't really sure what katie was talking

16:53

about, so she brushed it off. You

16:55

will get the next morning to more messages from katie

16:57

about what happened in the group chat. She

17:00

texted

17:02

me and she was like, Hey, like you were in it and

17:03

I was like, oh, was in it, like, what? What's

17:06

it about? and? then she told me,

17:08

she was just like, oh, they like bad

17:10

stuff. They're like, selling like people.

17:12

And was like, oh, the

17:14

group was slave with

17:16

Purple emojis is

17:18

about half a dozen mostly white students,

17:21

their Classmates for sale, your

17:23

pictures throwing out beds if

17:26

they're in an auction like slave

17:28

apparently

17:30

Nevaeh was one of the people in the chat who is

17:32

quote-unquote put up for sale. My

17:35

first reaction was, how much did I go

17:37

for? And who did go to full

17:40

honesty back? And she

17:43

said that i went

17:45

to her for free

17:45

in the chat is essentially a

17:47

private text read that after sometime

17:50

disappears. The future of the

17:52

Snapchat app. Some

17:54

students. Tell the school district about the chat,

17:56

the school called nevaeh's Mom and

17:58

the parents of others to While

18:00

her mom's on the phone with the school that it

18:02

all starts to sink in. And at that

18:04

point I was like, oh?

18:06

I was sold like don't know how

18:08

bad it is but assume it's not

18:10

that not the best and so

18:12

then I. asked my friend

18:15

or give me screenshots and she did This

18:17

is what they say. The screenshot,

18:20

one student. When up, niggers.

18:22

The group chat for making fun of black people.

18:26

In reply. Very nice. Another

18:29

screenshot. All blacks should die,

18:31

let's have another holocaust. The

18:34

a someone shares I. can curse

18:36

as another Picture

18:38

of black kid. Hum others

18:40

for fifty.

18:41

Man says he comes as a bonus

18:44

he's free. I'm an up and

18:46

man so gay or kill him for Jesus.

18:49

And other screenshot. Picture

18:51

of another black student.

18:53

-10 for autism. Someone says 50%

18:56

off sale. Picture

18:59

of two black teenagers. Someone

19:01

says they can run but they can't hide one

19:03

hundred each Double the Trouble. They

19:06

like picking cotton. Someone

19:08

makes an offer, I'll take them for hundred

19:10

and fifty as the pair. Another

19:13

screenshot picture in of A.M.

19:16

The than a red crop top and jeans and hat

19:19

posing year tree. The

19:21

underneath starting. bid one hundred

19:24

I'm on comments. Another, you

19:27

followed by another. And then

19:29

just so. Then in there, like. Running

19:32

like hit.

19:34

I was disgusted to,

19:36

the gut like it was just like oh my

19:38

gosh like joked to the students

19:40

before like. like can't

19:42

believe that they would think of typing

19:45

something that they thought like It

19:47

would be okay after like everything with black lives

19:49

matter this last year it

19:51

was just like wow okay showed.

19:54

me the The person they work.

19:56

It's almost like of a is inside the darker,

19:58

not funny version. The Eddie Murphy's get,

20:01

maybe you've seen at the one where he goes undercover

20:04

as white man and discovers all the things

20:06

white people do when there are black people in the room.

20:09

She had new window and fuller classmates

20:11

were and private and the screen. The

20:14

the spring'a twenty one like leads

20:16

to isn't remote phone. He went had

20:18

to face them until her junior year started

20:20

in the fall.

20:28

Never your mom, Taylor saw the screenshots

20:30

and the words "All blacks or die" and

20:33

worried front of a safety. The

20:35

emailed all the school board members went

20:37

back and forth with school administrators, she

20:39

felt like no one is taking it seriously. The

20:42

called the police. The police

20:44

investigated the group chats few

20:46

weeks later, they told Zealot that there were no

20:48

chargeable offenses. The you

20:50

can see is. I had that doesn't make

20:52

any sense because. There

20:56

with talk sounds. The line

20:58

are black.

20:59

Head and started another holocaust

21:02

to me that was a direct or indirect

21:04

threat of.

21:06

something that could potentially happen and

21:09

he just disregarded it as some

21:11

you know kids being kids and talk and map

21:14

The school get back to jailer and of air about

21:16

how they will handle the snapped her incident. Ultimately,

21:20

they say they will follow the district's policy for discipline

21:23

for the consensus civically what that meant. Nevada

21:26

was buried it, seemed like the whole

21:29

thing was can be swept under the rug and

21:31

she wanted people to know what happened. ten

21:34

done anything to be anything part of the snapshot except

21:36

be black Should you

21:38

speak up? That she worried over

21:40

that, too. They see something, will

21:42

people think I'm overreacting? When

21:44

I don't see anything or anyone else even know about

21:46

this.

21:48

In the and never made the decision to speak

21:51

she, talked to the press how it happened

21:54

Instead of disappearing, the story of mostly

21:56

white high schoolers auctioning off their black

21:58

classmates and a secret. The auction it.

22:01

got lot of attention I

22:03

personally have felt good talking about it,

22:06

she got a lot of support. People

22:08

reach out. He felt sense of relief.

22:11

The just as quickly as is happening

22:13

and many parts of America talking

22:15

about racism, intruder City and the to be

22:17

class. The be speaking

22:20

up, set up other bigger conversations

22:22

with racism in the community.

22:23

We went to a heated school board meeting where

22:26

some at all since the said to her city is not racist

22:28

place, any discussion of

22:30

racism, cause the division.

22:33

The dumping it was more important in of A.M.

22:35

with the backlash he got from her peers.

22:38

I'm kids turn to get tired of seeing the bay on the

22:40

news and didn't have a, it seems almost

22:42

irritated. He noticed a gradual

22:44

change, even among some of her friends.

22:47

There is a nice I've always hang out with them lot

22:49

and, I thought that we like. china

22:52

Had the same view point and

22:54

opinions on a lot of things

22:57

and, so then when this whole thing happened and they

22:59

started say oh why are people supporting about

23:01

it why that such that big deal that really showed

23:03

me like oh we disagree on such

23:05

big topic here like racism

23:07

like where did they stand in should

23:10

in let something like this determine my

23:12

friendship with someone or know

23:14

This question where, did the people around

23:16

me stand? it was the question that kept

23:18

coming up again and again and again

23:20

as and summer past and the school year approached

23:30

In the hall she went back to school in person

23:32

for the first time since the incident navy,

23:34

as junior. she looked around and

23:36

wondered who are my friends You

23:38

can I trust? The think that okay,

23:41

was sold and a slave trade. Then

23:43

do you think Sir South I can be friends with anybody?

23:47

One of the kids he participated in a snapshot

23:49

slave trade I'll call him Luke. They

23:52

were texting right after that incident

23:54

and again just before school started.

23:56

The tax said, like, oh, my gosh, I'm so sorry

23:58

about a low blast. A man

24:00

I've had other student come up with mean be like he's really

24:03

sorry here. In

24:05

scared of you and how he? Good,

24:08

yeah, he's going to an ass at the second

24:10

time he sent me apology, he was like, "Oh, I want to be friends

24:12

with you again and I'll say okay like" I'm

24:15

cool with being friends with anybody. The

24:18

tax, it a little. That it wasn't the same.

24:21

The chatterbox in a joke certain of as they.

24:23

were old friends they've known each other since middle

24:26

school That you gonna talk

24:28

to look about what happened. Then, but

24:30

he just wanted to move past it without ever addressing

24:32

it. Then it is, it's

24:34

just got weird because it felt like. I mean,

24:36

there was something we can discuss. Between each other and.

24:39

it was sick Line.

24:41

Between us that I was just like car awkward

24:44

and, so i just start talking

24:47

to him Luke was the first friend

24:49

of A was forced to make a decision about. Maybe

24:51

she couldn't be friends with everyone.

24:54

The week pass, she started ignoring him

24:56

like, as she sees in the halls, you look at her phone

24:59

walk to the other side.

25:01

Being away from Luke, many distance herself from

25:03

other friends like her one

25:05

for know, Kalia. She's a hey

25:07

like I know. How

25:09

wrong?

25:10

Like what he did but I am friends with him

25:12

and told her like hey like I'm.

25:14

not gonna Then be the one to tell you who

25:17

you can and cannot be friends with, like, if you wanna be friends

25:19

with him, he can be friends with them. And

25:21

I've just been like a if you if, but if you are

25:23

friends with them. Understanding consider the fact

25:25

of like I'm not going to be around as much like I'm.

25:28

not gonna hang out with him with your had me out with I'm

25:31

not gonna hang out with him at all in general I.

25:34

think it's hard for her to lake I

25:37

guess let him go.

25:39

Then of a, it has to navigate this new social

25:41

landscape on her own. That did not

25:43

simple. If one

25:45

time a couple months ago. They

25:47

would meeting the at football game she

25:49

got to the stands and Luke was there never.

25:52

had no idea he would be there I'm

25:55

like and be baby about this I can. The

25:58

mature and don't have to speak to him.

26:00

I'm not going to make a big deal out of this,

26:02

so then I was like, okay, like. want

26:04

to watch the games all day.

26:06

The game started, Leah called a player

26:08

trash for making bad play. Luke,

26:11

who's behind of air with his buddies defensive

26:14

player, marks girl who shouted, calling

26:16

her mean telling our he'd never say

26:18

something so mean. It wrong

26:20

and of as ears. Then I just like

26:22

stopped by like turnaround was like.

26:25

Really and. and

26:27

he looked at me

26:29

And he is mounties like dropped open

26:32

cars, and then his friends are like navan

26:34

of as you don't need to bring that up like. I'm

26:37

on know. of no thank you like

26:39

he's already been through enough Then

26:41

I didn't want to cause trouble for Luke. He

26:44

was some well. You just can pretend

26:46

that nothing happened. You can stop

26:48

questioning a lot of her relationships. Even

26:51

her relationship with katie It

26:53

would never clear ton of.

26:54

It. Can be had participated in the chat

26:57

they, were friends kiddies the one who told

26:59

her about the chat it didn't make sense that

27:01

she would have joined the. Katie

27:03

had said she'd bought know they are for, free that

27:06

detail stuck, with Nevada then

27:08

she started to hear from other people Katie. had

27:11

said stuff was a true

27:14

The screenshots katie Son of A I didn't have

27:16

the phone conversation and,

27:18

a screenshot she does have kiddies has nothing

27:21

Wasn't possible they were something in the missing

27:24

parts of the chat and, have a wondered

27:26

did she laughed at me to each place any bids.

27:29

know she probably stayed quiet and say anything

27:32

she's the reason i even know what happened Libya

27:35

was scared to ask her so she didn't they.

27:37

continued to be friends but the uncertainty weight

27:40

and of am ah

27:41

As much as I'd like to think she wasn't the type person

27:44

to do this all of these people who are in the

27:46

groups or weather friend or her friends she hung out with

27:48

them every day she, was surrounded by

27:50

them all the time she. faced

27:52

i'm them she joked with them The time

27:55

and. They made jokes like these.

27:57

All the time. The guy who started it.

28:00

With it. ' he was

28:02

just a rude race's person

28:06

and,' so she's surrounding yourself with such

28:08

rude races people like that eventually

28:11

She's gonna adopt, that

28:13

and adopt that kind of behavior on,

28:16

mean I learned it in psychology, so. sorry

28:21

this is a

28:24

I contacted katie through her mom wanted

28:26

them to know that in of a entities friendship

28:28

would come up in the story she. told

28:30

me they were not interested in talking and we're

28:32

moving past the sense of them They

28:35

have started to withdraw from Katie. katie

28:38

confronted her about why she was ignoring

28:40

her, the conversation have been

28:42

avoiding happens. This

28:44

is okay, like.

28:46

And you just straight up, be honest with me right now, did you

28:48

say something about me have you participate

28:50

in this group chat or? Then

28:53

we got into bed and of and are human arm

28:55

she called. me rude

28:57

and low forever suggesting a thing ah

29:01

That I was just like. And bad

29:03

friend for even like. Thinking

29:06

that and dumb, and

29:08

then was just like, okay, if you, she

29:10

told me that she wasn't involved in it. don't,

29:15

know what to think about it and so just was like hey

29:17

okay only get a distance myself from you.

29:19

and that was it "They are hasn't

29:22

talked to her", said.

29:29

The snapshot slave trade was almost nine months

29:31

ago.

29:32

The government school investigation in a police

29:34

investigation and title nine investigation

29:38

massive adults school administrators

29:40

police know exactly what was said

29:42

in those messages burnaby. dozen

29:44

the really bugs her

29:46

How I'd have an otherwise ordinary

29:49

rite of passage for any high schooler, what

29:51

did my friend saying do behind my back actually

29:53

have a documented answer? They

29:56

have, as she asked for the phone conversation

29:58

from the school. They never gave it to

30:00

her and told her katie shouldn't have shared

30:03

it. They told her if she wanted

30:05

to see more, she could file freedom of information,

30:07

act requests or flare bust.

30:10

Then she did. I did to you. The

30:13

man never waited. After

30:16

you know, could say some really hurtful staff, right? The

30:19

may really hurt me. Hi.

30:22

think that is A.

30:24

See it I can handle it

30:26

and will handle it and just it.

30:29

just be give me closure not only like for me

30:31

but like closure like

30:33

is katie participated or not because I'm

30:35

still questioning that. The

30:38

the right decision to just cut katie offer

30:41

was, just. Paranoid.

30:44

You know? When

30:46

Elsa South, mean, I've, you

30:48

know, and though just seeing is

30:50

katie participate or deny, and then seen what

30:53

else was said about me, those two things

30:55

was as gave me like the most closer

30:57

ever.

30:59

My boy request came in first a few

31:01

weeks ago of. close to five hundred

31:03

pages printed out emails after

31:05

emails police reports disciplinary

31:07

hearing forums That it's heavily redacted,

31:10

which is honestly pretty normal for if I am.

31:13

brought it to have a as house and see her mom

31:15

and I sat at the kitchen table trying to sort

31:17

through it all this, always

31:20

information within his black squares. as

31:25

Really I. just say

31:28

Crawford, the names, the so yeah, they said.

31:32

The screenshot of A was hoping to see what

31:34

they fully blacked out there. were little

31:36

bits of information here information there and there reports

31:38

that was hard to decipher of be like reaching there

31:41

was some new information in there

31:43

for one thing this sapped that wasn't

31:45

the first time that group of kids sold their

31:47

black peers and a slave auction In

31:50

boy at the kiddies started the slave trade

31:52

and traverse city, so they saw on tick

31:54

tock there was another one in Texas.

31:57

The second, the foyer made it clear that there.

32:00

More screenshots than the ones in of I

32:02

had seen. Them are blacked

32:04

out. could see the frustration

32:07

and disappointment on of a his face as

32:09

she fucked your page after page.

32:11

It's really frustrating to look

32:13

at these dislike tons of black

32:15

pages and just boxes that are completely

32:18

and the, and I just want to know what they said. don't realize

32:21

don't understand how why that's so difficult

32:23

to do so.

32:25

Handed over to me, I was in those groups, had was

32:27

a target and so.

32:29

I feel like as someone who is in the group

32:31

chat and talked about in the group to should. The

32:34

given the right to see what else

32:36

was said about me cause. You

32:39

know? They are all something

32:41

in the foyer that gave her paws.

32:43

The names are blacked out that she could see in the

32:46

report that someone in the chat didn't participate.

32:49

You get thing that over again blacked out

32:51

name did not participate fifty

32:53

pages later blacked out name did

32:55

not participate. Well, that

32:57

katie.

32:58

It just makes me question like maybe katie was

33:00

telling me the truth and here I was just brushing

33:02

and off because how strongly

33:05

was focused on finding out

33:08

if, she was it and are not. so

33:10

i guess if anything it just makes me question myself

33:12

for in myself judgment more

33:20

The next day, never, yeah.

33:22

That me impact she. made the choice

33:24

to believe that the blackout name the

33:26

person who did not participate as katie

33:29

Reading the boy I made of a I think about their relationship

33:32

about the she could trust something she'd been

33:34

sitting there. Before this

33:36

incident she had no reason to think that katie

33:38

wasn't an honest person she.

33:41

said she reached out to kitty to apologize and

33:43

katie had responded They

33:46

did not just want to know what was said about her in

33:48

the chat. The want everyone to now.

33:51

He wanted to talk about it. The

33:53

message she felt. She kept getting from our school,

33:56

the police, her friends, for the school

33:58

board meeting in her town. Five hundred

34:00

page blacked out for am was we don't

34:02

wanna talk about this. We don't wanna

34:05

talk about racism. It

34:07

was a message or has been on repeat everywhere,

34:09

and this moment backlash. And

34:11

as kid, if that's the message. Getting

34:14

bury. the racism What

34:16

do you do with that?

34:20

About an hour after I left there. How the

34:22

they his mom sent me a picture Nevada

34:25

and her him sitting on her bed surrounded

34:27

by the flam which either rains and

34:29

many little stacks of pay for like?

34:31

detective sorting and sifting through the clues

34:34

stood Doing still trying to

34:36

find something?

34:46

Coming up a person who does not want

34:48

to know anything about what's being said behind

34:50

their back.

34:51

That in a minute from Chicago Public

34:53

Radio when our program continues.

34:56

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36:06

Hey. There this American life listeners

36:08

I'm Wesley Morris I'm a culture writer

36:11

at the New York Times and I co-host a

36:13

podcast called still processing this

36:16

season This, invited some of my favorite

36:19

writers and critics to come talk

36:21

to come about the culture that shape

36:23

does the changing ways we

36:25

consume it and why keanu

36:27

reeves is basically culture unto

36:30

himself you

36:32

can listen unto still processing wherever you

36:34

get your podcasts

36:38

This American life I'm a manual berry

36:40

in for Ira glass. The show

36:43

talking while black stories of people

36:45

caught up in this moment of backlash. We've

36:48

gone from twenty companies tweeting

36:50

out black lives matter, there's all these

36:52

diversity initiatives to now. Where

36:55

it feels like even just saying something as black

36:57

as controversial. The they're passing

36:59

laws limit conversations about racism,

37:02

black people are losing their jobs for talking

37:04

about race too much. I

37:07

keep returning to the. In over the last

37:09

few months. This backlash,

37:11

what are you allowed to say, lakes as

37:13

a black person like what about

37:15

black lives or the black experiences

37:17

actually okay to talk about?" The

37:20

next story gets up this question. We've

37:23

arrived at act two of our program act

37:25

to the. force awakens One

37:28

place where you can see this dizzying at whiplash

37:31

as bucks by black people and

37:33

about black people. After the

37:35

murder of George floyd sales, black box

37:38

skyrocketed even Max Candy

37:40

stamps and the beginning the new Jim Crow,

37:42

so you wanna talk about race? We're

37:44

all of sudden bestsellers. The

37:46

window of time people really wanted to hear

37:48

what black authors had to say.

37:50

And then they dramatically did not want

37:52

to hear anymore.

37:54

The only did sale flow, but they're now

37:56

efforts to ban many of these books

37:59

that were so sell it. In a little over year

38:01

ago. Producer hundred off

38:03

the wall spoke with one author who

38:05

found his book band and his professional

38:07

arc is sort of mere for this backlash.

38:11

Your ha.

38:12

I learned about this particular banned book

38:14

from Deborah caldwell Stone. The

38:17

Director of the American Library Association

38:19

Office for Intellectual Freedom. Her

38:21

job is to track efforts to censor and

38:23

banned books and, she was telling

38:25

me she's never seen anything like this

38:27

fall before and her decades on

38:29

the job just the number of books being

38:32

challenged removed from school library

38:34

south

38:35

Many books about lgbtq people

38:38

she's as those have been contested for years.

38:41

More recently. Toni Morrison,

38:43

Doctor, a remix candy.

38:45

The hate you give a novel about the

38:47

aftermath of police brutality.

38:49

The And and there

38:51

was a mother whom halted

38:54

of author presentation by Jerry

38:56

Tracks by claiming falsely

38:58

that new kid represent

39:00

it's critical race. Very many

39:03

cars. Yeah, my clinic's

39:05

book, the graphic novel. The new

39:07

kid. The new kid is book

39:09

my children read. That twelve

39:12

year old black boy who goes to new school.

39:14

There he was scheduled to

39:17

give up of author presentation

39:20

to the kids in Katie,

39:22

Texas, and they lined

39:24

up the sake of and all the kids for it to

39:26

supporting meeting Jerry resume

39:28

and one mother stops the whole

39:30

thing by claiming that it was. Critical

39:33

race theory.

39:35

Very craft has been invited to speak to

39:37

thousands of schools over the years to

39:39

do other presentation like the one and katie

39:41

Texas because new kid was

39:43

widely acclaimed. When a

39:45

kind of word's it was number one York

39:48

Times bestseller translated into dozen

39:50

languages new. kid is semi

39:53

autobiographical graphic novel about

39:55

boy jordan

39:57

Wanted to be an artist, go to art of

39:59

the. That kind of in a fancy, private school.

40:02

Jordan. Is one of only few blackheads

40:05

lot of the kids are wealthy the campus is vast

40:08

and, you watch Jordan this funny

40:10

earnest kid navigate new

40:12

environment? There's culture shock

40:15

there's new, friendships it's part

40:17

fish out of water story and purchase

40:20

kid in middle school figuring out crashes

40:22

figuring the cafeteria and things Should

40:25

he do sports where the me the golf? The

40:28

aircraft told me when he played "New

40:30

Get Out There", the response was amazing,

40:33

everything it was all like great thing.

40:35

Hug from the world. People

40:37

wrote him to say my kid once.

40:39

Then. Be an artist now, my kid loved

40:41

your book, or hey, you are

40:43

my kid, has never been a read it before and he read

40:45

your book three times like that, some. Use to

40:47

season when it's last surprised

40:49

because I love and admiration right after now

40:51

say hey can you comment here,

40:54

in the B C I'm like know.

40:57

what is this This

40:59

is not his thing controversy.

41:02

There he was, a kid who have to draw who became

41:04

an adult who kept drawing.

41:06

spent most of his time and or him by himself

41:09

making pictures. When

41:11

he published new head and twenty nineteen Syria,

41:13

been reading comics for decades. This

41:16

was the bucket always wanted to write. That

41:19

he wished he'd had as a kid. The

41:21

black characters who seems as. Regular.

41:25

There it, as you remember going to library as a kid,

41:27

and I was always the General Bucks. The

41:29

black box.

41:31

The general bugs are once the live

41:33

better and are both just wants

41:35

to live know your books

41:37

his father's king or books his father's

41:39

gone in, our lives

41:41

the magical kingdom lives in the heard.

41:44

all the books with black protagonists were

41:46

history or misery you know

41:48

no kid like me ever made it to the end

41:50

of a book The there was no dad,

41:53

there was nothing in other kids always lived on

41:55

the. South side of somewhere

41:57

that was just really horrible. You

42:00

know, and it was gangs

42:02

of slavery, civil rights or. Police

42:05

brutality and I'm like, can I just

42:07

see a kid who the biggest?

42:10

Problem of the day is what he wants to play experts,

42:12

the playstation. And that's

42:14

why I do what do,

42:17

make those books that wish had. That's

42:19

the thing about new kid being banned.

42:22

So many of the other black?

42:24

After that band bugs or rating explicitly

42:26

about racism or history books

42:29

about how slavery has saved America,

42:31

police brutality, how to be an anti

42:33

racist?

42:35

Then. New kid this is not

42:37

a history book it's not about police

42:39

violence or slavery or civil rights

42:42

it's, story about finding your place in middle

42:44

school, there are. Racial flights

42:47

and sort of daily, way classmates

42:49

and teachers make assumptions about where joins

42:51

from that he's great athlete, they

42:54

say ignorant things try to touch A. Black.

42:56

friends hair administrators

42:58

continue to call hair longstanding black teacher

43:01

coach even though he's never coached

43:03

anything Jordan

43:05

often fantasy funny he laughs about

43:07

it with another black classmate sometimes,

43:09

you find that confusing are annoying, but

43:12

it's not. tragic these

43:14

are just things that happen on the way

43:16

alongside lots of

43:17

Experiences with his way, classmates

43:19

and teachers, including good

43:22

experiences. Honestly,

43:24

the most dramatic thing that happens in this.

43:26

Story is it during loses his gets

43:29

but. Due to

43:31

do.

43:36

When

43:39

I.

43:39

Jerry, I didn't know the specifics of

43:41

the objections and Texas and I'd have

43:43

expected Jared it's on the and. You

43:45

know, even math and me. The read

43:47

enough of one article to understand

43:50

that away. And had complained about his book

43:52

was calling critical race theory a

43:54

term Jerry have to than Google. And

43:57

he calls the article without finishing it. Then.

44:00

Today. That friends

44:02

and strangers kept method. In him.

44:04

How crazy your book? The

44:07

man.

44:08

So one person sent me the

44:10

axis school board. Link

44:12

the, I guess they filmed school board. And

44:15

just refuse to watch that because

44:17

you. know like when i'm sitting for

44:20

sixteen hours a day drawing like

44:22

humorous stuff for kids I

44:24

have to protect my own brain, the my own

44:26

psyche, because don't want you know my next

44:28

book. The to be like, oh, how Mr.

44:30

Crabb used to be funny now he's so depressing,

44:33

you know, so have to be in a really

44:35

good mental space for that.

44:38

So I did, you knew, mean, it sounds like

44:40

you knew that was something that you weren't gonna want

44:42

to watch, yeah, did not want to go down that

44:44

rabbit hole.

44:45

How to, when did you imagine

44:47

was down that rabbit hole that was scary

44:49

to you?

44:53

That complaint.

44:54

That I saw was that I'm

44:57

teaching kids critical race theory so

45:00

the college course. That

45:03

mentions things such as institutional

45:05

racism and all these really heavy, deep

45:07

things that they are studying and picking

45:09

apart in college.

45:11

I was now are break that down

45:13

for fourth and fifth graders apparently

45:16

so is,

45:20

there for me, is that is came

45:22

to, Texas like

45:25

we want any well I'm not really being an. event that we

45:28

have the given opposing viewpoints as i

45:30

do my interviews didn't have been interviews the middle got

45:32

a call from the opposing side and then the tv

45:34

duke it out right busy dog I

45:38

did not stage of.

45:39

With. A man who complains about Jerry Crafts

45:41

bucks but I did talk to her and,

45:44

watched her testimony at the Kitty School Board

45:46

meetings the one's aircraft would not

45:48

was. , name is Bonnie

45:50

Anderson she has three kids in the schools

45:53

she's very involved in local school. politics

45:56

should A lawsuit against the school district.

45:58

Mac and eight. Then and she ran

46:00

for school board last spring that lasts.

46:03

They told me she first encountered during

46:05

suck when she got a flyer in our kid's backpacks,

46:08

announcing the out there is it, so she

46:10

got the book's new kid and

46:12

the file bug class act. And

46:14

read them both herself.

46:16

I don't have you ever have you read this sucks yeah my

46:18

kids read them okay I,

46:21

heard of a know where to start ah. so

46:24

that's the first thing that first noticed is all of the

46:26

my progression Ah, no. That

46:29

the author is the ticking.

46:31

Micro aggressions the my meaning of the

46:33

every day thoughtless staff way people

46:35

and the buck say around black and white.

46:38

bonnie worried how really knows the texans make

46:40

way kids feel The

46:43

district tell me there was another path to

46:45

who apparently filed a complaint that new kit

46:47

includes vulgarity, they would not

46:49

provide that. The name. Funny

46:52

though was very public, she

46:54

cared enough about this to create petition

46:56

demanding the district cancel Jerry Craft's

46:58

event. The got four hundred signatures.

47:02

The bonnie. The book has clear

47:04

agenda jerry. set out

47:06

to convince people systemic racism

47:08

is real and so how privileged

47:11

The awful white people are.

47:13

Wrapping it up with money or dramatic moments

47:16

that the hurt seem totally over the top. Like

47:19

the scene where the dad gets pulled over. The cop

47:21

and a super now. She says

47:23

you really think that happens, I. The

47:26

white man who were it's her kid's black friend

47:28

may take offense if she serves watermelon

47:30

for snack come, on she

47:32

says Lot of

47:34

our conversation with Bonnie questioning

47:36

parts of the book and me saying

47:38

I think that's peace and Jerry's, oh, nice.

47:41

You really think the Jerry craft

47:44

went through an arduous school? She

47:46

did, and you really think he was given

47:49

to see just sort of it? Then. The

47:52

visiting the winter at we it's not. The US

47:54

for.

47:56

"The that he went to I'm a mostly just school

47:58

he went to", sealed said. Not at your

48:00

school you faint I,

48:03

mean i don't you're saying he The believe that

48:05

actually happened to him.

48:08

Regardless, let's just pretend that all the things

48:10

he wrote of out. Been called an oreo

48:13

all those things actually happened. I'm

48:15

regardless. Let's return for like, and that

48:17

all those things happened or let's take his word. The

48:20

thing happened. It doesn't matter

48:22

what Fleetwide isn't that matter because you don't

48:24

harm future generations of children because

48:27

you went through about Express, you don't poison

48:29

the minds of my children. Then,

48:31

even if it happened, you do not.

48:35

Within the mind of other kids and

48:37

make them seal. Like

48:39

they have to make concessions

48:41

for being white.

48:43

This is an idea that is repeated and a lot

48:45

of the efforts to ban books, the

48:47

idea that these bus was psychologically

48:50

harmed soldier and. Usually you

48:52

wait children. When you say it

48:54

poisons the minds of your kids, what's the same that you're

48:56

worried as gonna happen to your kids reading these

48:58

bugs?

48:59

That is this, but teach

49:01

children the preordained conclusion

49:04

that white children have well

49:06

status and race privilege. Small

49:08

children of cover color must suffer the race's

49:10

ignorance of these privileged families you remember

49:13

from the books that those the white mom.

49:15

There's nothing but for yoga all day and

49:18

on the white boy cells neglected

49:21

and they live in a mansion and

49:24

they drive in the range rover. It's

49:26

Mercedes and sir.

49:28

Her bonnie, these characterizations

49:30

would be damaging to her kids if they read the books.

49:33

Which they haven't. The

49:36

new head is a book that is entirely

49:38

focused on the perspective of black boy,

49:40

the think he sees. And experience is.

49:43

There are only characters, some

49:45

of them are mean, some of the murder incest

49:47

friends.

49:48

When an impact everyone through sock puppets

49:50

but, they're peripheral The

49:53

story about Jordan So.

49:55

i would assume Make with any

49:57

well told story kids reading this

49:59

book what I did. The by with the main character.

50:02

And he's the protagonist of the story.

50:11

I want to say something here, feel obliged

50:13

to say, but also feels a little embarrassing

50:16

for all of us that I have to say at all.

50:19

But theory class that new kid

50:21

is not critical race theory theory,

50:24

crafted

50:25

Create a fictional twelve year old

50:27

black boy Jordan thanks to promote complex.

50:29

A legal theory about systemic racism.

50:32

And although it is a work of fiction, most

50:35

of what Bonnie objects to in these books did

50:38

actually happened. The how

50:40

much?

50:40

In just your in direct life

50:43

experience, this a lot of it.

50:45

I. Was the light skinned African American

50:47

kid by the harlem grew up in Washington Heights,

50:50

the house with Jordan Bank's lives as a brownstone

50:52

that is literally the house while I was. Born

50:54

and spent the first twenty five years my life,

50:57

my mom and dad did not want me to

50:59

go the art school that you later and

51:01

banks wanted to get tired. When look at our school so

51:03

they send me to school in Riverdale in

51:06

here, they send Jordan banks to school

51:08

called Riverdale Qaddoumi Day School or read

51:10

for short.

51:11

Gordon Banks felt that a place during

51:13

craft felt that place.

51:15

The wouldn't banks his classmates all inexplicably

51:18

wear pink but called that salmon. The

51:20

Metairie craft. That are

51:22

the whole arm.

51:25

Vineyard vines thing ah that was

51:27

like the unofficial uniform, so I'd seen sit

51:29

in new kids at grapevine groves like

51:31

while you kids show will other pink years, I know

51:34

it's not pink salmon.

51:36

All the things Jordan base observed

51:38

or experiences a white man

51:40

who worries about serving watermelon and

51:42

nerve wracking interaction with cop, wait

51:44

classmates touching your hair, assuming

51:46

you like basketball. They happened

51:48

to Jerry or Dairies kids.

51:51

The'and and called the wrong name, you

51:53

know, hey, the andre I'm not the entree,

51:55

Andrew, like that the other one or

51:57

have like that the other one.

52:00

So interesting to me about this book,

52:02

in particular, being kind of drawn

52:04

into this. He er't. t

52:06

The battle that supposedly

52:08

about history but. your

52:10

book is not a history with this is like literally

52:13

just you writing down the story of your life

52:15

Yeah, it literally is like, based

52:18

on what I actually see, there's

52:20

nothing that haven't lived myself.

52:23

With one exception, those can see gift

52:25

certificates. There he has, he made that

52:28

up.

52:29

One other thing, Jerry pointed out, that really

52:31

happened to him. The last

52:33

chapter of New Kid It's called the first

52:35

the weekends it's when Jordan loses

52:38

his gets fuck the when he carries everywhere

52:40

he super stressed because it has all his thoughts

52:42

and drawings from that year sort of like. The

52:44

visual diary. It turned

52:46

out his teacher, Miss Rob, is holding

52:49

his gets back when he comes into the classroom, she's

52:51

read it.

52:52

And she regents if I join

52:54

you know why you so angry

52:57

suck I'm not angry you know

52:59

and like and the teachers upset about

53:01

with in the driver because he will

53:03

complain about being called the wrong

53:05

name or. you know

53:07

this different things different tell people touching his friends

53:10

here it's so she's like jordan your special

53:13

your know like you're here and

53:15

he's like year but miss role like would

53:17

you take a job at his school in my

53:20

neighborhood so you can be special

53:23

If you like can it gets on mistake, so.

53:26

Let me get this right it's okay for the stuff to happen

53:28

to me it's just not okay for me to talk about

53:30

it and. that sums

53:32

up this whole thing that's going on now

53:36

Right? The things based on my life

53:38

and based on my kid's lives. The

53:40

feel a good grown up version of of.

53:43

What happens to carry bags and your novel,

53:45

"I Love You", said Jerry Banks, because bet that

53:47

despite the rings or not you're right, it is

53:49

blurry banks we are, one of the saints know it's

53:52

exactly the same.

53:54

It is enormous,raul raul found

53:56

Jordan Sketchbook and said that it's a polemic

53:58

and that it's angry. And this

54:00

woman found my book and says it's polemic

54:03

and it's angry. And

54:05

damn. Yeah.

54:08

I went back to that last after recently and

54:11

what stood out reading at this time knowing

54:13

it had been banned.

54:15

That even twelve year old Jordan Banks

54:17

knows that his account of his own life

54:19

will not be acceptable to my teacher

54:21

and is better captain the safety of his journal.

54:25

He knows the teacher won't be able to read it

54:27

without feeling personally attacked.

54:29

He knows that what has happened to him or not

54:31

matter as much as how it makes her. The

54:34

all to read about it. He

54:36

already knew that, even if it's all real.

54:39

You'd rather he did the two and half.

54:47

Eight, the have recently passed legislation

54:49

restricting the teaching of.

54:50

Read to them and bias in public school

54:53

Texas, is one of them Nearly

54:55

twenty more states have introduce or

54:57

planned to introduce similar legislation.

55:01

Live almost never list specific

55:03

books if you teach they talk

55:05

about safe sex they, prohibit

55:07

teaching any lessons that might make students

55:09

feel quote the discomfort

55:12

Guilt or anguish because of

55:14

their race.

55:15

After been a citizen and the complain about

55:18

new kid including vulgarity, the

55:20

district responded Monson Investigation

55:23

and, said it was using the new

55:24

reply to evaluate the book it,

55:27

as a poll jerry buss in the library and

55:29

pulled off his author visit

55:33

In Pennsylvania, a group of parents

55:35

got the school board to ban list of diverse

55:37

bucks, including children's book about Rosa

55:39

Parks. The worried the bucks can

55:41

be used to make weight soldier and feel guilty.

55:45

A group. Of White Man's in Tennessee

55:47

have demanded a book about Martin Luther King

55:49

Jr. and the March on Washing. Then be

55:51

removed from their curriculum that.

55:54

Though objected to a chapter book called

55:56

"The Story of Ruby Bridges" because

55:58

it makes it seem like way. People are bad

56:01

or.

56:02

Their parents, who claim reading books

56:04

about black experiences, are black history

56:06

or just a black kid going to middle school,

56:09

will harm their children. Their

56:11

desire to protect their kids from discomfort

56:14

is now enshrined in the law. The

56:18

investigation into New Can't Last Attendees

56:20

at which point the district announced their findings.

56:24

No inappropriate material.

56:26

The region would be allowed to read this book and

56:28

katie Texas. During the event

56:30

with the kids was real. And job. The

56:33

my find.

56:34

That the same questions they always do, what

56:37

inspired you, is it going to be a movie?

56:40

That same day the Kitty School Board

56:42

had meeting parents, showed up to

56:44

complain said the of that was allowed to go

56:46

forward with that critical race theory

56:48

was infiltrating schools. and

56:50

they demanded and full audit of the whole

56:53

life Gray races, which will just recently

56:55

raise one mining. There

56:57

is one man who. To defend new

56:59

kid on to say what the but means to her

57:01

family.

57:04

Have never spoken before, so this is about

57:07

that Jerry fact that.

57:10

Your yourself out that her,

57:12

name is currently she's black woman

57:14

standing before standing line of board members

57:16

well appeared to be wait There's

57:18

that he had to say. Even though the books

57:21

will be placed on shelves again. I

57:23

am concerned to what led to them being

57:25

removed.

57:26

Can you caught on your hand and telling me how many people

57:28

of color you've ever had at your home

57:31

if you are? The trouble or just can't remember a

57:33

day or time, please tell me what

57:35

do you possibly know about what? Wow, what book

57:37

you've never left?

57:38

Have you ever went to work for two years and

57:40

have someone call you Brittany every morning

57:43

I have because my name is Courtney? You

57:45

not a correlation if you've read the book

57:48

New Kid Patio class is you read

57:50

it have. you ever served as great

57:52

century The Washington D. C.

57:54

inauguration of two thousand and Korea, two thousand

57:56

and one Iraq, two thousand and three Afghanistan,

57:59

two thousand and fifteen. forty Two thousand

58:01

and sixteen only to have your fifteen year old

58:03

twins and call you in the middle of workday,

58:05

saying he doesn't like is Paco high school

58:08

and learned that. The doctor visits of anxiety and

58:10

stomach pains for the last twelve months for

58:12

only due to white seen calling your son the

58:14

N word for the last year of two. Thousand and eighteen,

58:17

well, I have if you read the book you'd understand

58:19

the correlation once again of the oreo joke.

58:22

"How dare you four hundred and forty four signatures

58:24

remove what little representation my closer

58:27

has the shelves, it's reality and

58:29

litres your form or the modern day said?"

58:31

I. Don't applaud you for place in the book back on the

58:33

shelf, my only hope is set to not allow

58:36

the unknown and false narratives to sway

58:38

your judgment on needed representation. Of us

58:40

all representations of matter,

58:42

please and thank me for my service, do it because

58:44

love it, many friends and bowels have that

58:47

and bled for it as for. katie as the

58:49

do with you suits and need to do to

58:51

uphold the standards of fairness, justice

58:54

and representation for this school districts

58:56

so can thank you for your.

59:00

The speakers and we lose.

59:04

The president

59:07

ever.

59:10

In so many corners of the country right

59:12

now, parents usually

59:14

wait parents are showing up to meetings

59:17

just like this to express their

59:19

fear to say they don't want their children

59:21

farmed. The feeling uncomfortable.

59:25

Courtney is talking about from that

59:27

has already happening and,

59:29

jury craft is already uncomfortable",

59:32

he wrote a whole book about feeling uncomfortable.

59:34

he told me You just learn to deal with that.

59:38

The never had any laws protecting him

59:40

from discomfort. Or scoreboards

59:42

worried about his discomfort? When

59:45

he had with the. The ready to write

59:47

it down.

59:54

On

59:56

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