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Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt Booted From Tulsa Race Massacre Commission After Signing Anti-Critical Race Theory Legislation

Last week, The Root reported that Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt signed into law yet another Republican white fragility bill prohibiting teachings in K-12 schools that include conservativeโ€™s favorite new boogie man Critical Race Theory or any other race-based curriculum that causes โ€œdiscomfort, guilt, anguish or psychological distressโ€ to (white) students. The bill pushed by people…

Last week, The Root reported that Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt signed into law yet another Republican white fragility bill prohibiting teachings in K-12 schools that include conservativeโ€™s favorite new boogie man Critical Race Theory or any other race-based curriculum that causes โ€œdiscomfort, guilt, anguish or psychological distressโ€ to (white) students. The bill pushed by people whose salty white tears could fill the Georgia Aquarium was denounced by both the Oklahoma City Public Schools Board of Educationโ€”but what the hell do they know? Theyโ€™re only literal fucking educatorsโ€”and the Tulsa Race Massacre Centennial Commission, of which Stitt had the caucasity to be a member of...until now.

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The Associated Press reports that the commissionโ€”which was formed to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the day patriotic Americans decided that hundreds of Black people should die violently rather than be affluent and freeโ€”announced Friday that it removed Stitt from his seat on the panel because he doesnโ€™t get to sign legislation than bans teaching about the brutality of whiteness in America while serving on a board that does just that.

I mean, the commission didnโ€™t say all that, but we know thatโ€™s why Stitt got the boot.

From AP:

A statement from the commission did not indicate the reason for the parting, and a spokeswoman said the commission had no further comment. However, commission project manager Phil Armstrong this week had sharply criticized the Republican governor for signing a bill into law that prohibits the teaching of so-called critical race theory in Oklahoma schools.

โ€œThe 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre Centennial Commissioners met Tuesday and agreed through consensus to part ways with Governor Stitt,โ€ the commissionโ€™s statement said.

It went on to say that while the commission โ€œis disheartened to part ways with Governor Stitt, we are thankful for the things accomplished together.โ€ It also said, โ€œNo elected officials, nor representatives of elected officials, were involved in this decision.โ€

Carly Atchison, a spokeswoman for Stitt, said the governor of people whose white tears could have solved the Flint water crisis didnโ€™t have a real role on the commission anyway, but rather his role โ€œhas been purely ceremonial and he had not been invited to attend a meeting until this week.โ€ It makes sense that Stitt would have his name on the commission without actually being involved in it because, like virtually all Black history, the massacre at โ€œBlack Wallstreetโ€ is a story that canโ€™t be told honestly without discussing America as a racist countryโ€”or in other words, discussing it in a way that will cause โ€œdiscomfort, guilt, anguish or psychological distressโ€ to white people.

Phil Armstrong, the commissionโ€™s project manager, said that Stittโ€™s signing of the white fragility legislation is โ€œdiametrically opposite to the mission of the Centennial Commission and reflects your desire to end your affiliation.โ€

But let me show yโ€™all how caucasity works.

Atchison said in her statement that itโ€™s โ€œdisappointing to see an organization of such importance spend so much effort to sow division based on falsehoods and political rhetoric two weeks before the centennial and a month before the commission is scheduled to sunset.โ€

Nah, fuck you!

The fact is, this entire Republican war on Critical Race Theory is a shining example of โ€œfalsehoods and political rhetoric,โ€ and it absolutely causes โ€œdivision.โ€ Of course, when conservatives talk about divisiveness, theyโ€™re really only talking about shit that makes white people uncomfortable; to hell with the โ€œdivisionโ€ that pushes Black people away because American history continues to be whitewashed in a way that only serves to protect white feelings.

The bill Stitt signed bans schools from teaching that โ€œan individual, by virtue of his or her race or sex, is inherently racist, sexist or oppressive,โ€ and โ€œbears responsibility for actions committed in the past by other members of the same race or sexโ€โ€”CRT teaches neither of those things.

As I wrote in my previous reporting on the signing of the bill: โ€œIn general, CRT is just an academic study on how the undeniable systemic racism in Americaโ€™s history has been embedded in American law and other institutions that exist today.โ€

Conservatives like Stitt will sign legislation barring CRT, but wonโ€™t bother learning the first thing about what it is.

But please, tell us more about how weโ€™re the ones causing all of the โ€œdivision.โ€

Straight From The Root

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