As a storyteller, I depend on the power of words to make change. Writers much better than I have demonstrated that idea again and again throughout history. And like many tools, words can be used for good ends or bad. Words can entertain, words can admonish, and they can give us glimpses of the sublime and the divine. They can also cause irreparable harm when used to divide, to hide and to hurt.
In my post The Art of Writing Letters I wrote about the Department of Education's Office of Civil Rights February 7th 'Dear Colleague' Letter. The letter is a massive overreach and a twisting of law to imply that any activities or practices related to diversity, equity or inclusion are illegal. Luckily, for all of us, they have issued 9 pages of FAQs, 15 total questions and answers, that continues the ghostlighting of the original letter.
Question number one is about how to file a complaint, which tells you all you need to know about the letter as a whole. The rest of the document is an attempt to justify their overbroad interpretation of SFFA v Harvard.
My favorite excerpt from the entire letter: "For example, schools with programs focused on interests in particular cultures, heritages, and areas of the world would not in and of themselves violate Title VI, assuming they are open to all students regardless of race. Nor would educational, cultural, or historical observances--such as Black History Month, International Holocaust Remembrance Day, or similar events--that celebrate or recognize historical events and contributions, and promote awareness, so long as they do not engage in racial exclusion or discrimination." Duh!
This statement contains two fatal flaws. First, it reveals that this administration believes that Black History Month is solely something that is done to placate Black people, rather than an effort to educate the rest of us on some of the inconvenient truths that were omitted by our systemically White education system. Secondly, if you want to avoid being confronted and shamed by your Jim Crow-loving, slave owning ancestors, you would prefer that Black History Month not really be open to you.
It is time to call racism, racism and to acknowledge that DEI work is NOT racism.
At least the administration admits that nothing that they targeted as illegal in the Dear Colleague letter is actually illegal. Must suck to be one of those schools that cancelled Black History Month. What are you going to do about that?
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