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Michigan Chronicle Vol. 85 – No. 19 | January 12-18, 2022
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COMMENTARY
White Supremacy By Godfrey Dillard The Black philosopher, Charles W. Mills, describes white supremacy in America as a “racially sanitized” reconstruction of white domination and oppression. A form of liberalism that promotes a “color-blind” ideology: whites tend not see themselves in racial terms and not to recognize the existence of the advantages whites enjoy in American society. It is a worldview that emphasizes individualistic explanations for social and economic achievement. As a consequence, whites are more likely to see the opportunity structure as open, impartial, or objective in its functioning. This supports explanations for inequality that focus upon cultural characteristics (e.g., motivation and family values). Blaming Blacks for their lower economic position serves to neutralize demands for antidiscrimination or for a redistribution of resources. Indeed, the real racists are the Blacks who continue to insist on the importance of race. These claims of course are not new, but decades or a century old. Professor Mills is not the first “critical race theorist” to see the importance of race in America. Professor W.E.B. Du Bois, the father of critical race theory, in his seminal work, Black Reconstruction in America, 1860-1880, long ago pointed out in mainstream scholarship the centrality of race in American society. There is, however, a growing body of mainstream scholarship that is beginning to catch up to his insights. It should not be a surprise that critical race theory has its opponents. The conservative think-tank at The Heritage Foundation has recently published a pamphlet called, Critical Race Theory, subtitled, Knowing It When You See It and Fighting It When You Can. It describes critical race theory as a philosophy founded by law professors who use Marxist analysis to claim that America is “systemically racist.” It alerts the reader that critical race theorists have been active in colleges and universities for years, but their impact on public policy was limited until now. In headlines, it describes how critical race theory has “now burst outside of the universities, affecting K-12 schools, workplaces, houses of worship, state and federal governments, and even the military.” It rejects claims of systemic racism, that race drives beliefs and behaviors, white privilege, meritocracy as myth, and equity. Finally, it describes “How to Stop Critical Race Theory.” It asks the reader to find out what your schools teach, speak to your child’s teacher and principal, engage with your local school board, and become a whistleblower. Indeed, we now see protests before school boards around the country to the teaching of Black history, slavery, and removal of books in K-12 school libraries by Black authors. As we approach Black History Month, we must remain vigilant in guaranteeing that the history of Black people and their contributions to American society remain front and center in our schools. To do otherwise, is to go blind to the sacrifices of our ancestors.
53 Years After The Dream What Would Martin Luther King Jr. Do in Today’s America if He Were Alive?
By Donald James Special to the Chronicle
As America and the world celebrate the late Martin Luther King Jr. on his federal holiday, Monday, January 17, two days after his actual birthday, many will reflect on the life, times, and legacy of the greatest name, orator, mobilizer and advocate of the Civil Rights Movement. On MLK Day, there will be news stories generated and special events commemorating King’s powerful speeches to uplift the underserved, the hundreds of marches and protests he led in the face of hatred and white supremacy and the relentless search for freedom and justice for African Americans, all rooted in King’s philosophical belief of nonviolence. Yet, for many people, MLK Day will be a time to discuss how far Black people in America have come since King was assassinated in Memphis, Tenn., on April 4, 1968, after standing at the vanguard of the Civil Rights Movement since 1955. African Americans have made significant gains because of King’s indelible fingerprints on the Civil Rights Movement. Still, in many instances, Black people today face some of the same issues of yesteryear. On any given day, news stories are focused on national and state legislators maneuvering to strip voting rights and power from Black and Brown people; deadly incidents of police brutality against Black people and widening gaps for Black Americans to attain quality education, fair housing and equitable employment opportunities. As the old
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In 2022, America is at another racial crossroads, while many ask the hypothetical question: What would Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. say and do if he were alive? No one can accurately say how impactful King would be in addressing many of today’s hot-button issues. However, a cursory look at his civil rights’ track record lends insight to what King would say and do if he were alive. Many of King’s actions in the Civil Rights Movement led to watershed moments of change for Black people, including the one-year-15-day Montgomery Bus Boycott (1955 to 1956), the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom (1963) and the Selma to Montgomery March (1965). In conjunction with other civil rights contemporaries, King led vigorous fights to bring about landmark legislation, including the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965. In 1964, King was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his nonviolent resistance to racial bigotry in America. If King were alive today, it’s believed he would be appalled, but not totally surprised, at the elevated level of police brutality against Black people that far too often ends in death. It’s believed he would be at the forefront of organizing and facilitating peaceful protests and marches against police brutality while working with local and federal legislative bodies and other organizations to eradicate such actions.
If King were alive, he would have been amazed at the national and international protests that followed the 2020 murder of George Floyd by a white police officer with three others looking on. Witnessing the guilty verdict and sentencing of the former officer, while the other three face federal civil rights violations charges on January 20, 2022, in Minneapolis, would be foreign to King as such murder trials and guilty outcomes of white people were uncommon in the Jim Crow era of systemic racism where King pushed for justice for Black people. It’s difficult to believe King would approve of the violence, looting and burning of businesses that happened during some protests, although not linked to actions by the organizers. After all, King’s philosophy for fighting injustices was rooted in religion, nonviolent tactics, ongoing dialogues and building coalitions. Many believe King may not have embraced much of the ideology of Black Lives Matter (BLM), probably wondering why Blacks are killing each other at rates much higher than other ethnicities if Black lives mattered so much to this organization. Yet, he would be astonished by how the organization has morphed into the world’s biggest and most influential movement for the liberation, justice and rights of Black people. Nonetheless, King may have been proud that three Black women who founded the powerful BLM -- Alicia Garza, Patrisse Cullors and Opal Tometi
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Critical Race Theory: Beyond MLK By Megan Kirk
King’s Dream:
adage goes, “the more things change, the more they remain the same.”
Critical Race Theory has been under attack for several decades with traction mounting in the 21st century. Referring to the academic study of race as a social construct, Critical Race Theory, or CRT, explains the country’s complex relationship with race and racism, particularly between Black and white communities. Recently, left- and right-wing politicians are arguing about the necessity of CRT to be taught as a part of American school curricula. Though race relations is a sensitive topic for most, it is an undeniable part of America’s history and the basis for the formation of public policies and laws. Still, schools are refusing to teach students the truth about
DPSCD, Tyrell Slaprace in America. As pey is familiar with Martin Luther King leading his students Day approaches, through the teachconversations about ings of Dr. Martin King’s teachings as Luther King Jr. and it relates to CRT are other Black hisup for debate. torical figures. But “Martin Luther schools across the King has somewhat state may have race become the comstripped from their fortable fit for the lesson plans with established system. the passing of new Dr. King had that legislation. conversation that The introduction appealed to both of House Bill 5097 sides -- meaning it wasn’t as radical. Minister Freedom Allah and Senate Bill 460 would cancel the However, it was still passive enough to fit the mode of CRT curriculum. The Bill, which standard society,” said Minister was passed in the Michigan Freedom Allah, national repre- House in November 2021, would sentative for the People’s Action. prohibit schools across the state A third-grade teacher for from instruction that would pro-
mote race as well gender lessons. To further deter schools, Senate Bill 460 would impose a harsh financial penalty for CRT teachings. Educators choosing to teach lessons on race or gender would cause their school to lose five percent of their funding. “If we’re talking about Critical Race Theory and racism being taught in America, that’s our now, that’s our past, it’s not going anywhere in the future. It may be getting a little better, but it’s not going anywhere in the future,” said Slappey. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., through his life’s work, teachings and speeches, outlined his stance on race and its construct in America. At a time when Black
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