Oklahoma Joins Sad Fraternity Of States Trying To Rewrite Racial Abuse History
HB 1775 sits on Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt’s desk awaiting his signature to prohibit the teaching of critical race theory. Accordingly, it would remove curriculum that in history, race has influenced actions that benefit white people over the pain of people of color. Or in other words tell the truth. White legislators are using their majority advantage to push through the most strident and racist laws in recent history. One could point to the effect of ex-president Donald J. Trump for someone to blame. However, President Ronald Reagan really ignited the angry white male into a political force that he rode to political victory. Whoever made it appealing for white lawmakers to write laws that would never see the light of day in recent years, are now passing crude legislation with lead-pipe cruelty.
Does this mean Native Americans will no longer be forced to participate in Oklahoma Land Runs and looking at Indian mascots? Does the law protect people of color as well?
HB 1775 was an ordinary education bill that was scrapped and completely rewritten to accommodate the latest republican fad of oppressing the truth about how this nation was built. It was built on genocide of Native Americans that some say wiped out 14 million people until there was less than a million. They stole millions of acres of tribal lands after breaking every single treaty. The paid bounties on the hides of native people that in some cases brought some tribes to the brink of extinction. The enslaved Africans by the millions to work their crops. Many did not survive the trips to America and were dumped overboard. After a civil war to end slavery, southern states could create Jim Crow laws to oppress so called free blacks. Blacks were terrorized by the KKK and were lynched by the thousands.
There was the Land Run, the Trail of Tears, the Osage Reign of Terror, and the 1921 Race Massacre, that under this proposed law will not be allowed to be taught because it will make white children feel guilty.
Stitt is rightfully under intense pressure to veto this bill because of its racist intent to hide history once again. To be sure the history is not being taught to make one student feel responsible for what happened 100 years ago. Rather, the intent is to give students an accurate telling of the American creation. The Tulsa Race Massacre Centennial Commission and the Superintendent of Millwood Schools are just a few of those who are calling on the governor to veto the bill. Unfortunately, Stitt has signed several disturbing laws that would allow drivers to run over and kill protestors if they are blocking the road and a school choice bill that will surely destroy schools found in neighborhoods of color. Hopefully, he will give pause on this wrong-headed law that would only make the most ignorant proud.
Stitt is already at war with most of the tribal nations after trying to strong arm them into signing new compacts he did not have the legal authority to arrange. Now there is a growing anti-Indian sentiment in the state and the flames of hatred are fanned by KOTV.
If that were not enough, there is also a provision of the bill that would prohibit higher education students from being required to take part in any kind of mandatory gender or sexual diversity training or counseling. This proposed law also comes on the heels of the state preparing to teach a Tulsa Race Massacre curriculum as proposed by State Senator Kevin Matthews and United States Senator James Lankford.
Oklahoma is not the only state to push through insensitive and intolerant laws aimed at people of color. In Tennessee, State Rep. Justin Lafferty perhaps emboldened by all the crazy laws being proposed, told his peers while debating critical race theory the three-fifths compromise found in the constitution was noteworthy. Incredibly, Lafferty said the framers of the constitution “specifically limited the number of representatives that would be available in the slaveholding states and they did it for the purpose of ending slavery- well before Abraham Lincoln, well before the Civil war.” There were no gasps of shock in the legislative chamber but instead raucous applause. The New York Timesopined “The Three-Fifths Compromise, an agreement reached during the negotiations in 1787 to create the United States Constitution, found that, for the purposes of representation and taxation only three-fifths of a states’ enslaved people would be counted toward its total population. It is regarded as one of most racist deals among the states during the country’s founding.”
In Florida, a law awaits signing that would allow students to record professors they feel are teaching critical race theory and all professors will be mandated to reveal their belief system to administrators.
The GOP is pushing through hundreds of laws to inhibit people of color voting, women’s choice, and other laws that would not ever see the light of day before. This law needs to be vetoed and beaten back for its looming damage. There is absolutely no need for ignoring and whitewashing history. It really is a solution looking for a problem that does not even exist. HB 1775 is a shiver looking for a spine to run up and Stitt needs to veto it now. You want to help? Call Stitt at 405-521-2342 or fax him at 405-521-3353. Or contact Stitt at governor.ok.gov/contact. Tell Stitt to veto HB 1775!
Five Oklahoma City Policemen Charged With Manslaughter In Shooting Hispanic Teen
Policemen continue to shoot people of color across the country. However more and more often in some circumstances they are being held responsible for overreacting and for shooting suspects. In this case, five cops were charged with first-degree manslaughter this week after they shot and killed a 15-year-old Hispanic boy who had already dropped his gun to the ground. Police had Stavian Rodrigues surrounded as he climbed out the Okie Gas Express on November 23 last year. He was given varying commands. He dropped his weapon, and as he pulled his pants up the policemen opened fire hitting him 13 times. Oklahoma City is still shooting citizens. However, they are also charging policemen when they overreact and shoot. Charges should be a deterrent. But there is still a great need for reform and better training.
