October 9th, 2024

Whitewashing Education and Politics

How would you distribute nearly thirty-three billion dollars left over after you balanced your accounts? This is the dilemma Governor Greg Abbott faces at the end of this year’s regular session of the Texas legislature.

This redundancy is greater than the entire budget of 24 other states.  According to the Texas Tribune in March, If the surplus were passed out equally to each of our fellow 30 million Texans, everyone would get about $1,088. With that bonus, every single Texan could purchase more than three avocados per day for a year. Or we could pay for every student’s school lunch (no guacamole, please!) every day from their first day of first grade until they graduated high school and have enough for 30 more days each.

Or you could improve Texas’ per-student funding for education. Currently we are close to the lowest extreme of all the other states, and our students are being denied adequate and accurate instruction.

You could increase the paychecks of Texas teachers. Their minimum annual salaries ranged from $33,660 for a beginning teacher to $54,540 for a teacher with 20 or more years of experience during the 2022-23 school year. They are the only state employees who have not received a raise this year. No wonder experienced, successful teachers are departing the classrooms, forcing the newer ones to work harder, longer and try to control larger classes.

For comparison, the governor’s salary is $153,750, which is the 21st highest among all the states, and comes with free housing, healthcare, travel reimbursement, security, entertainment expenses, and automobile transportation … No “wokeness” or historically accurate lesson plans required.

Of course, school safety is a priceless priority for Republicans and Democrats. After the massacre in Uvalde last year there have been frequent discussions about how to “harden” schools, with some lawmakers calling for better access to the state’s mental health system, which ranks dead last among the other states in this country.

To protect campuses the governor has recommended that school safety officials conduct “unannounced, random intruder” appraisals of Texas public schools. Education advocates are skeptical of sending unannounced, fake intruders, anxious that the actors participating in such practices might be subject to defensive attack by any observer who misidentifies them as a legitimate threat. Clay Robison, a spokesperson for the Texas State Teachers Association sees this as “just another way to avoid addressing the issue of doing something about too many guns in the hands of the wrong people.”

But if parents can be provoked to sufficient disgust over the appalling conditions of our public schools perhaps it will sponsor tumultuous, groundswell support to abandon them entirely. In that case the governor has an eager scheme to remedy the dissatisfaction: his private (Christian) school vouchers plan!

Florida has had such a plan for over 20 years. As a result, Black History (and Blackness) has been a casualty in that state. An Advanced Placement course in African American history was prohibited because it was determined to be without “educational value.” Instead, fanciful “whitewashing” history lessons will be in Florida’s public schools in the fall, including the preposterous suggestion that people of another continent weresiezed, tortured, and then perished as a clever way to learn a trade. (“Slaves developed skills which, in some instances, could be applied for their personal benefit.”)

Our nation is being consumed by culture wars. Students’ understanding of our collective past and prospective future may be contingent on whether they are educated in a red or a blue state.

“Our children deserve nothing less than truth, justice, and the equity our ancestors shed blood, sweat, and tears for,” Derrick Johnson, president, and CEO of the NAACP, said in July. “It is imperative that we understand that the horrors of slavery and Jim Crow were a violation of human rights and represent the darkest period in American history.”

Indeed, it is imperative to protect their own integrity as well as to demonstrate their educational achievements to the very institutions that measure their worth, those that ascertain their worthiness to enroll in AP or dual credit classes in high school or college, as well as college admissions exams and review boards that demand accurate comprehension of historical incidents and how students relate past events to modern issues.

Republicans, led by pugilistic governors like Abbott and DeSantis, both of whom disingenuously promote “personal freedoms” are the predominant deniers of generational trauma, insisting that slavery does not affect Black people today. They decry and exclaim over Critical Race Theory (the scientific fact that discrete human races do not exist,  that the concept of race is a pretext to support white supremacy) ignoring that the esoteric scholarship on CRT is published in professional journals not easily accessible to K-12 teachers or the public, or that is generally restricted to graduate school curriculum, particularly law studies.

Civil rights attorney Ben Crump warned recently “If we don’t bash this racist curriculum in the head like a snake, then I worry that it will manifest all across America,”.

It may be too late to bash it. As of this spring legislation to outlaw CRT in schools has been made law in Idaho, Iowa, Oklahoma, and Tennessee. In Texas the legislature intends to prohibit schools from teaching the Pulitzer Prize winning 1619 Project, the New York Times examination of U.S. history from the date when Black people arrived on American ground.

Still, we will never surrender our youth’s education. We will continue to campaign and protest as if it is never too late.

 

 

 

 

 

 

October 16, 2023, HOUSTON, TX – Congressional Candidate Amanda Edwards has raised over $1 million in less than 4 months, a substantial sum that helps bolster the frontrunner status of the former At-Large Houston City Council Member in her bid for U.S. Congress. Edwards raised over $433,000 in Q3 of 2023. This strong Q3 report expands on a successful Q2 where Edwards announced just 11 days after declaring her candidacy that she had raised over $600,000. With over $829,000 in cash-on-hand at the end of the September 30th financial reporting period, Edwards proves again that she is the clear frontrunner in the race. “I am beyond grateful for the strong outpouring of support that will help me to win this race and serve the incredible people of the 18th Congressional District,” said Edwards. “We are at a critical juncture in our nation’s trajectory, and we need to send servant leaders to Congress who can deliver the results the community deserves. The strong support from our supporters will help us to cultivate an 18th Congressional District where everyone in it can thrive.” Edwards said. “Amanda understands the challenges that the hard-working folks of the 18th Congressional District face because she has never lost sight of who she is or where she comes from; she was born and raised right here in the 18th Congressional District of Houston,” said Kathryn McNiel, spokesperson for Edwards’ campaign. Edwards has been endorsed by Higher Heights PAC, Collective PAC, Krimson PAC, and the Brady PAC. She has also been supported by Beto O’Rourke, among many others. About Amanda: Amanda is a native Houstonian, attorney and former At-Large Houston City Council Member. Amanda is a graduate of Eisenhower High School in Aldine ISD. Edwards earned a B.A. from Emory University and a J.D. from Harvard Law School. Edwards practiced law at Vinson & Elkins LLP and Bracewell LLP before entering public service. Edwards is a life-long member of St. Monica Catholic Church in Acres Homes. For more information, please visit www.edwardsforhouston.com

As September 13th rolls around, we extend our warmest birthday wishes to the creative powerhouse, Tyler Perry, a man whose indomitable spirit and groundbreaking work have left an indelible mark on the world of entertainment. With his multifaceted talents as an actor, playwright, screenwriter, producer, and director, Tyler Perry has not only entertained but also inspired audiences worldwide, particularly within the African-American community, where his influence and role have been nothing short of powerful. Born in New Orleans, Louisiana, in 1969, Tyler Perry’s journey to stardom was a path riddled with adversity. Raised in a turbulent household, he found refuge in writing, using it as a therapeutic outlet. This period of introspection gave rise to one of his most iconic creations, Madea, a vivacious, no-nonsense grandmother who would later become a beloved figure in Perry’s works, offering a unique blend of humor and profound life lessons. Despite facing numerous challenges, including rejection and financial struggles, Perry’s determination and unwavering belief in his abilities propelled him forward. In 1992, he staged his first play, “I Know I’ve Been Changed,” which, although met with limited success, was a pivotal moment in his career. Unfazed by initial setbacks, Perry continued to hone his craft, and by 1998, he had successfully produced a string of stage plays that showcased his storytelling prowess.

Calling all teenage student-athletes! If you have dreams of playing college soccer and wish to represent an HBCU, the HBCU ID Camp is your golden opportunity. From 8 am to 5 pm on November 11-12, Houston Sports Park will transform into a hub for aspiring male and female soccer players. Coaches from HBCUs across the nation will be present to evaluate, scout, and offer valuable feedback. Moreover, they might even spot the next soccer prodigy to join their collegiate soccer programs. This camp is not just about honing your soccer skills but also a chance to connect with the HBCU soccer community. You’ll learn the ins and outs of what it takes to excel on the field and in the classroom, which is crucial for a college athlete. The HBCU ID Camp is an excellent platform to network with coaches, learn from experienced athletes, and take the first steps toward your college soccer journey. To secure your spot at this incredible event, don’t forget to register [here](insert registration link). Space is limited to 120 participants, so make sure to reserve your place before it’s too late. It’s time to turn your dreams of playing college soccer into a reality.

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