Utter Bullshit

Let me start by saying what is not okay: People who try to influence children with a one sided ideology of government, history and other social issues. There is no way that this is okay. However this is what is occurring in Texas. Apparently, the school board has hired conservative experts to help them to change and improve the curriculum within their public schools. These experts would like to erase all kinds of civil rights leaders from the history books- people like Caesar Chavez and Thurgood Marshall.Evidently people like Thurgood Marshall are “not qualified” to be in the history books. Let me give you some quotes:
• "To have César Chávez listed next to Ben Franklin" – as in the current standards – "is ludicrous," wrote evangelical minister Peter Marshall
• “[Thurgood] Marshall is just not a STRONG enough example” said Peter Marshall
Soo lets address the “unqualified” argument. My question is, if Chavez and Thurgood arent qualified, who is?? Lets look at Thurgood for a moment. He overcame his own discrimination within his own life. He rectified discrimination through his accomplishments as lawyer who won Brown v. Board of Education. Then, if that’s not enough, he becomes the first African American judge in our supreme courts and works to change discrimination across the nation. Chavez-And he isn’t qualified to be in our history books? His accomplishments arent good enough? What more does he have to do, except be white…but I digress.

Even more appalling, there is another quote from Barton, Former Vice Chair of Texas Republican party
• because the U.S. is a republic rather than a democracy, the proper adjective for identifying U.S. values and processes should be "republican" rather than "democratic." That means social studies books should discuss "republican" values in the U.S., his report said.I have a serious problem with reinforcing “republican values” within the public school system. I have an even bigger problem with erasing key people who absolutely deserve to be remembered for their accomplishments and sacrifices. Social studies is suppose to be a reflection of the progression of social issues in our nation. It should not be an area that simply highlights a set group of iconic Americans, who just so happens to look alike. Thurgood Marshall is unquestionably one of the most influential Americans of the twentieth century. How can one argue otherwise? School children should be inspired civil rights leaders such as he as well as leaders such as Medger Evers, Fannie Lou Hammer, and Rosa Parks. To disregard the accomplishments of pivotal leaders, to withhold important historical information, and enforce a one sided perspective and account of our progression definitely encourages us to move backwards as a nation.

Whites only pool

Two weeks ago outside Philadelphia, 65 children from a summer camp tried to go swimming at a club that their camp had a contract to use. Apparently, the people at the club didn't know that the group of kids was predominantly Black. When the campers entered the pool, White parents allegedly took their kids out of the water, and the swimming club's staff asked the campers to leave. The next day, the club told the summer camp that their membership would be canceled and that their payment would be refunded. When asked why, the club's manager said that a lot of kids "would change the complexion ... and the atmosphere of the club."1 A "Whites only" pool in 2009 should not be tolerated. The club's actions appear to be a violation of section 1981 of the Civil Rights Act.2 Whether or not any laws were violated, a "Whites only" pool should be something every American condemns. Please join us in doing exactly that, and please email your friends and family and invite them to do the same. Your signature will also be used to call on the Department of Justice to evaluate suing the facility under federal law. It takes just a moment to do both, here: http://www.colorofchange.org/swim/?id=1629-827102Obama is President but that doesn't mean that suddenly all is fine when it comes to race in America. This is a vivid reminder of what we know still lies beneath the surface. We all know stories like this one -- similar incidents play out quietly every day in different communities across the country. The difference in this case is that folks got caught and there was a contract in place that makes for a potentially illegal act. Standing up now isn't just about making things right for these kids in Philadelphia or bringing consequences to this swim club (called the Valley Swim Club). It's about creating a climate of accountability everywhere. If we can publicly shame the Valley Swim Club and hold them accountable for this incident, it will make others think twice before engaging in what appears to be blatant discrimination. Please join us in condemning the Valley Swim Club's behavior and calling on the Justice Department to investigate whether they violated civil rights laws. And please ask your friends and family to do the same. http://www.colorofchange.org/swim/?id=1629-827102
Thanks and Peace, --
James, Gabriel, William, Dani and the rest of the ColorOfChange.org team