Know What STMA Schools Teach About Race

Martin Luther King dreamt of a world where his children would be judged not by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character. His vision inspired a generation and changed our nation for the better.

Several decades later, an increasingly dominant cultural force seeks to reverse King’s legacy, to take us from a nation which values character to a people which can’t see past color. Indeed, it wasn’t long after the zenith of King’s activism that more radical elements recognized “color-blindness” as a threat to their ideological agenda. After all, when your political goals depend upon a populace divided, the last thing you want is a harmonious color-blind community.

To undo what King achieved, “critical theory” was created. It redefined concepts like racism and oppression. It moved the goal posts from the fixed point of legal equality to the ever-shifting mirage of “equity.” Prior, a racist had been someone who held the abhorrent belief that skin color determined ability or worth. Now, a racist was someone who opposed, or simply failed to adequately advance, a collectivist agenda.

Glenn Singleton and Curtis Linton state that implicitly in their book Courageous Conversations: A Field Guide for Achieving Equity in Schools. A protocol adapted from their work defines racism this way: “Any act that even unwittingly tolerates, accepts or reinforces racially unequal opportunities or outcomes for children to learn and thrive (emphasis added).” So, if you oppose policies that throttle individual achievement to create an illusion of equity, you’re a racist.

Of course, if you happen to be white, you were probably a racist already. That’s certainly true if you value American culture and think it should be emulated. The Courageous Conversations protocol defines “whiteness” as: “The component of each and every one of ourselves that expects assimilation to the dominant culture.” What are the aspects of that culture? The Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History & Culture lists them as: “Individualism, hard work, objectivity, the nuclear family, progress, respect for authority, delayed gratification, more.” Consider the implications of this. Such objectively positive qualities, which should be embraced and exemplified by everyone, are defined as “whiteness.” Promoting them is “racism.” Of course, in reality, defining these qualities as somehow exclusive to white people proves truly racist.

This troubling worldview is being introduced to children in school districts throughout Minnesota. It has its nose under the tent right here in our community. Racial equity leadership training has begun in earnest within the St. Michael-Albertville Independent School District. I attended a session held at STMA Middle School West on January 19th, where aspects of Singleton and Linton’s Courageous Conversations protocol was introduced and utilized.

I have since been assured that the district has curated only those aspects of the protocol which enable an open and safe discussion about race. By safe, they mean that participants should feel free to share their sincere experiences, feelings, and beliefs without fear of judgment or accusation. The broader ideological framework attached to the Courageous Conversations protocol will not be utilized, I have been told.

We shall see. Parents and residents need to remain vigilant regarding how these efforts proceed. The originators of these tools seek to pigeonhole the “open and safe” conversation within a set of disputed premises and conclusions. What if you don’t accept their offered definition of racism? What if you disagree that “whiteness” is a problem? What if you would prefer your student to evaluate others by the content of their character rather than their skin color? Will there be an open and safe place in these discussions for you?

The next meeting where racial equity training will continue will be held in the Media Center at Middle School West at 5:30pm on February 16th. The meeting is open to the public. Respectfully observe, and take note.