I understand the need for "Empowering Males of Color", but the tone of this is exclusive offensive

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't think asking questions about this event makes anybody a racist. That is crazy and throwing around the term so casually really makes it difficult for people to engage in a meaningful conversation.

I mean, what do you want to discuss? The finer legal points about how you could bring a reverse discrimination lawsuit? The need to block black kids from getting support tailored to their lives? The fact that your white child feels excluded? You want a White Empowerment seminar for your child?

About the ONLY thing people of good will have to discuss here is the fact that DCPS would be well-advised to add an asterisk “all are welcome” to deal with the new “concerned” citizens, and hope for the best there is no trolling or disruption.

Is anyone suggesting blocking Black kids from these opportunities? Why not extend the invitation to every child? Why perpetuate the division?

why do you think resources and education tailored to black kids is “division”? do you believe your white child not being able to go to this event or have a white empowerment event is as harmful as black kids educational disparities? do you think your white child needs additional consideration and resources to address disparities based on race? finally, do you actually feel offended at the idea of a black-only event? why?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't think asking questions about this event makes anybody a racist. That is crazy and throwing around the term so casually really makes it difficult for people to engage in a meaningful conversation.

I mean, what do you want to discuss? The finer legal points about how you could bring a reverse discrimination lawsuit? The need to block black kids from getting support tailored to their lives? The fact that your white child feels excluded? You want a White Empowerment seminar for your child?

About the ONLY thing people of good will have to discuss here is the fact that DCPS would be well-advised to add an asterisk “all are welcome” to deal with the new “concerned” citizens, and hope for the best there is no trolling or disruption.

Is anyone suggesting blocking Black kids from these opportunities? Why not extend the invitation to every child? Why perpetuate the division?

why do you think resources and education tailored to black kids is “division”? do you believe your white child not being able to go to this event or have a white empowerment event is as harmful as black kids educational disparities? do you think your white child needs additional consideration and resources to address disparities based on race? finally, do you actually feel offended at the idea of a black-only event? why?

also if you are against racial “division,” what do you propose to do to fix economic racial divides?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:Jesus, you people are embarrassing. These initiatives are not new (2015 at least), and they are designed to try to empower and boost achievement for groups that have historically have been left behind. I believe Obama's My Brother's Keeper initiative was part of the inspiration.

You people complain that Black communities don't do enough to address problems in their own community and then get angry when we try to direct resources toward our children designed to do exactly that.

This is true but at least some of the school-based initiatives have expanded from exclusivity to include '& allies." The adults organizing these events should consider the impact on all of the children. The kids probably see the inherent separation as problematic and say something especially since much of the DCPS curriculum is centered around civil rights.

oh ffs.

You can ffs all you want but it's true. And it turns out that a lot of kids need to feel connected and not all kids of color participate in these kinds of events because they don't need additional empowerment. I'm glad this exists but my black kids aren't interested and don't feel like they need to participate for empowerment even if some adults are telling them they do.

ok so your specific complaint is that white kids will feel excluded and not all black kids need to be empowered. therefore there should be no events tailored for children of color due to the possible harm to white kids and rich black kids.

No, my complaint is that no where does it say "All students welcome." I wouldn't have (although some on here probably would) complained even if they put it in a tiny font at the bottom of the announcement.

And why exactly do you think that’s important?

I'm tired of this circular jerk; I am satisfied with my point and am moving on.

lol!

OP: I am offended!
US: You are racist!
OP: It’s not racist to ask questions!
US: OK, here are a bunch of questions for you.
OP: I’m tired with this circle jerk; I am satisfied with my point.

[Anonymous]

Anyone who has done anything for racism justice beyond putting a BLM sign in their yard can understand why some areas are appropriate for white allies and some are not. If you really care about racial justice you'll figure that out too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:Meh, I lean far more center than left, and this doesn’t bother me. It’s sort of like HBCU’s. I think it’s a good thing they exist. It’s about building community for these kids. It’s an extra. I don’t see the issue.

HBCUs are open to everyone.

As are our schools. But this is an extracurricular activity geared to one audience. I don’t see the big deal.

An extracurricular activity sponsored and promoted by a publicly-funded institution with an explicit invitation only to certain races is not “open to everyone.” Just to be clear.

It is concerning and it is illegal. But now is not the time.

Just to be explicitly clear anyone can go but white kids aren’t the target. If your child doesn’t have autism would they go to a workshop about autism in the workforce? Which DCPS schools do. If you aren’t autistic you could go but know you’re not the target.

Stop acting like whiteness is being excluded and targeted, it’s very telling and disgusting.

My child is autistic and if there was such an event (Wouldn’t that nice? Ha! Not happening.), I would love it if kids - and adults - who were not autistic were invited and welcomed because that might help them understand what it means to be treated differently just for being who they are. Which happens to people with autism and Black people all the time. Why not make this an event where every 12 yr old - regardless of race - feels welcomed in order to foster a more inclusive mindset for everyone?

Sweetie, I am a teacher at a school that ran such an event. We have it every year in April, other people do come but we don’t exclusively say that.

This is an event to empower boys of color, not for white kids to understand racism.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't think asking questions about this event makes anybody a racist. That is crazy and throwing around the term so casually really makes it difficult for people to engage in a meaningful conversation.

I mean, what do you want to discuss? The finer legal points about how you could bring a reverse discrimination lawsuit? The need to block black kids from getting support tailored to their lives? The fact that your white child feels excluded? You want a White Empowerment seminar for your child?

About the ONLY thing people of good will have to discuss here is the fact that DCPS would be well-advised to add an asterisk “all are welcome” to deal with the new “concerned” citizens, and hope for the best there is no trolling or disruption.

Is anyone suggesting blocking Black kids from these opportunities? Why not extend the invitation to every child? Why perpetuate the division?

why do you think resources and education tailored to black kids is “division”? do you believe your white child not being able to go to this event or have a white empowerment event is as harmful as black kids educational disparities? do you think your white child needs additional consideration and resources to address disparities based on race? finally, do you actually feel offended at the idea of a black-only event? why?

also if you are against racial “division,” what do you propose to do to fix economic racial divides?

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't think asking questions about this event makes anybody a racist. That is crazy and throwing around the term so casually really makes it difficult for people to engage in a meaningful conversation.

I mean, what do you want to discuss? The finer legal points about how you could bring a reverse discrimination lawsuit? The need to block black kids from getting support tailored to their lives? The fact that your white child feels excluded? You want a White Empowerment seminar for your child?

About the ONLY thing people of good will have to discuss here is the fact that DCPS would be well-advised to add an asterisk “all are welcome” to deal with the new “concerned” citizens, and hope for the best there is no trolling or disruption.

Is anyone suggesting blocking Black kids from these opportunities? Why not extend the invitation to every child? Why perpetuate the division?

why do you think resources and education tailored to black kids is “division”? do you believe your white child not being able to go to this event or have a white empowerment event is as harmful as black kids educational disparities? do you think your white child needs additional consideration and resources to address disparities based on race? finally, do you actually feel offended at the idea of a black-only event? why?

+1

[Anonymous]

Discrimination is illegal in public schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Discrimination is illegal in public schools.

Yes, that is why we need to end school segregation and close the funding and equity gap between black and white schools.

Right?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't think asking questions about this event makes anybody a racist. That is crazy and throwing around the term so casually really makes it difficult for people to engage in a meaningful conversation.

I mean, what do you want to discuss? The finer legal points about how you could bring a reverse discrimination lawsuit? The need to block black kids from getting support tailored to their lives? The fact that your white child feels excluded? You want a White Empowerment seminar for your child?

About the ONLY thing people of good will have to discuss here is the fact that DCPS would be well-advised to add an asterisk “all are welcome” to deal with the new “concerned” citizens, and hope for the best there is no trolling or disruption.

Is anyone suggesting blocking Black kids from these opportunities? Why not extend the invitation to every child? Why perpetuate the division?

The large majority of black/brown kids in DCPS are from economically disadvantaged backgrounds. Given this, targeting these specific groups for outreach seems reasonable. Why target those who don't need to be targeted (e.g., your white, afflluent kid)?

Are black/brown kids that are not economically disadvantaged included and accepted?

When you say brown, do you mean that POC that are not black are included and accepted?

[Anonymous]

I think it's shitty that they have programs literally geared toward every student except white males. Is there a correlating general leadership program that all can participate in in addition to or instead of these programs?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think it's shitty that they have programs literally geared toward every student except white males. Is there a correlating general leadership program that all can participate in in addition to or instead of these programs?

Why do you think it's shitty? Do you think white males need a special program to be empowered? Do you feel your white male child does not have enough support to overcome challenges in his life? What kind of problems do you think your white male child will face getting into college, going to college, and in the workplace?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't think asking questions about this event makes anybody a racist. That is crazy and throwing around the term so casually really makes it difficult for people to engage in a meaningful conversation.

I mean, what do you want to discuss? The finer legal points about how you could bring a reverse discrimination lawsuit? The need to block black kids from getting support tailored to their lives? The fact that your white child feels excluded? You want a White Empowerment seminar for your child?

About the ONLY thing people of good will have to discuss here is the fact that DCPS would be well-advised to add an asterisk “all are welcome” to deal with the new “concerned” citizens, and hope for the best there is no trolling or disruption.

Is anyone suggesting blocking Black kids from these opportunities? Why not extend the invitation to every child? Why perpetuate the division?

The large majority of black/brown kids in DCPS are from economically disadvantaged backgrounds. Given this, targeting these specific groups for outreach seems reasonable. Why target those who don't need to be targeted (e.g., your white, afflluent kid)?

Are black/brown kids that are not economically disadvantaged included and accepted?

When you say brown, do you mean that POC that are not black are included and accepted?

PP here, if you have kids who are POC, they can answer for themselves. Actual POC understand the terms--this conversation is clearly not for you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think it's shitty that they have programs literally geared toward every student except white males. Is there a correlating general leadership program that all can participate in in addition to or instead of these programs?

Why do you think it's shitty? Do you think white males need a special program to be empowered? Do you feel your white male child does not have enough support to overcome challenges in his life? What kind of problems do you think your white male child will face getting into college, going to college, and in the workplace?

It is a kind of interesting question. There are efforts to talk to boys about things like sexual violence and awareness of problems women and girls face, often at the hands of boys and men, in order to combat "rape culture" and so forth.

Should there be something similar for white boys to learn how they might be perpetuating racism, and to be challenged to think about it in a separate group and come to terms with their identity and privilege, in a useful way? As a parent of a white boy I often wonder how to make sure he grows up to be both anti-racist and a feminist, and all alone we can only do so much if social pressures go the other way.

I would not want the white or non-black boys in particular to feel left out and therefore actually step up their journey toward racist behaviors linked to some kind of misguided sense of victimhood (a la, Trumpists). I don't think this event is a bad idea, or should be more inclusive, but shouldn't we also treat the disease from the other way.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't think asking questions about this event makes anybody a racist. That is crazy and throwing around the term so casually really makes it difficult for people to engage in a meaningful conversation.

I mean, what do you want to discuss? The finer legal points about how you could bring a reverse discrimination lawsuit? The need to block black kids from getting support tailored to their lives? The fact that your white child feels excluded? You want a White Empowerment seminar for your child?

About the ONLY thing people of good will have to discuss here is the fact that DCPS would be well-advised to add an asterisk “all are welcome” to deal with the new “concerned” citizens, and hope for the best there is no trolling or disruption.

Is anyone suggesting blocking Black kids from these opportunities? Why not extend the invitation to every child? Why perpetuate the division?

The large majority of black/brown kids in DCPS are from economically disadvantaged backgrounds. Given this, targeting these specific groups for outreach seems reasonable. Why target those who don't need to be targeted (e.g., your white, afflluent kid)?

Are black/brown kids that are not economically disadvantaged included and accepted?

When you say brown, do you mean that POC that are not black are included and accepted?

PP here, if you have kids who are POC, they can answer for themselves. Actual POC understand the terms--this conversation is clearly not for you.

Oh my kids definitely identify as POC. But clearly "understand the terms" is coded language.

Would you mind enlightening those that don't "understand the terms" what that means?