Posted on Nov 11, 2023
Authors of George Floyd book were told not to talk about systemic racism at Tenn. school event
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Memphis-Shelby County Schools denied placing restrictions on what the authors could say, calling it a “miscommunication.”
Journalists Robert Samuels and Toluse Olorunnipa, authors of the Pulitzer Prize-winning book “His Name Is George Floyd,” are still unclear why they were told they couldn’t read from their book or talk about systemic racism to a room full of high school students in Memphis.
Two days before an event at Whitehaven High School, they said they were “blindsided” by the last-minute restrictions, which they believed event organizers issued in accordance with Tennessee laws restricting certain books in schools. They’d also been told in the weeks before the appearance that their book wouldn’t be distributed at the event.
One thing is for certain, the authors said: The students paid the price ultimately.
“I was thinking about the great disservice that they’re giving these students who deserve better,” Samuels said about the days before the event. “I thought about my personal disappointment and feelings of naïveté that despite all the work Tolu and I had done to make sure the book would be written in a way that was accessible to them, a larger system decided that they were going to take it away.”
Journalists Robert Samuels and Toluse Olorunnipa, authors of the Pulitzer Prize-winning book “His Name Is George Floyd,” are still unclear why they were told they couldn’t read from their book or talk about systemic racism to a room full of high school students in Memphis.
Two days before an event at Whitehaven High School, they said they were “blindsided” by the last-minute restrictions, which they believed event organizers issued in accordance with Tennessee laws restricting certain books in schools. They’d also been told in the weeks before the appearance that their book wouldn’t be distributed at the event.
One thing is for certain, the authors said: The students paid the price ultimately.
“I was thinking about the great disservice that they’re giving these students who deserve better,” Samuels said about the days before the event. “I thought about my personal disappointment and feelings of naïveté that despite all the work Tolu and I had done to make sure the book would be written in a way that was accessible to them, a larger system decided that they were going to take it away.”
Authors of George Floyd book were told not to talk about systemic racism at Tenn. school event
Posted from nbcnews.com
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Journalism
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Posted 1 y ago
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Having Been An Employee Of The Clark County School District, I'll Just Post My Opinion.
The Schools Have Been Sued So May Times Over Everything From Lack Of Adequate Toilet Paper InThe Rest Rooms To Physically Abusing Their Child.
So This May Be A Case Where They Decided To NOT Have Another Situation Where They Can Be Sued Again, And It's Better The Students NOT Be Educated Than Their Being Sued.
But As Most Already Know, I Left Public Education Mid 9 th Grade And Educated Myself While Enlisted In The USAF, With ALL The Help Coming From The United States Armed Forces Institute ~~ U.S.A.F.I. ~~Navy Personnel Services ~ NAVPERS, And A Couple Other Programs Through The University Of Arkansas, And The University of California, Berkeley...
ALL Being Home Study Programs, And Every One Paid In Full By The Military Services.
One Of My Better Decisions In Life, Because The "Public-Lack-Of Education-System Does NOT Educate, And I Doubt It Has, From As Far Back As Least 300 Years, When Farming Was Our Main Industry & The Students Were Taught "HOW To Become Better At Farming".
Now I Ask All Of You THIS Regarding Your Receiving Your High School Diploma:
"Upon Completion of the 6th GRADE; During The Following 6 YEARS Which It Took
To Receive Your High School Diploma, What Did You Learn Which Added To Your Ability,
OR Qualifications, To Receive Better Employment"?....
Just Think About The Question & Reply If You Wish..
~END Of SPEECH ~
The Schools Have Been Sued So May Times Over Everything From Lack Of Adequate Toilet Paper InThe Rest Rooms To Physically Abusing Their Child.
So This May Be A Case Where They Decided To NOT Have Another Situation Where They Can Be Sued Again, And It's Better The Students NOT Be Educated Than Their Being Sued.
But As Most Already Know, I Left Public Education Mid 9 th Grade And Educated Myself While Enlisted In The USAF, With ALL The Help Coming From The United States Armed Forces Institute ~~ U.S.A.F.I. ~~Navy Personnel Services ~ NAVPERS, And A Couple Other Programs Through The University Of Arkansas, And The University of California, Berkeley...
ALL Being Home Study Programs, And Every One Paid In Full By The Military Services.
One Of My Better Decisions In Life, Because The "Public-Lack-Of Education-System Does NOT Educate, And I Doubt It Has, From As Far Back As Least 300 Years, When Farming Was Our Main Industry & The Students Were Taught "HOW To Become Better At Farming".
Now I Ask All Of You THIS Regarding Your Receiving Your High School Diploma:
"Upon Completion of the 6th GRADE; During The Following 6 YEARS Which It Took
To Receive Your High School Diploma, What Did You Learn Which Added To Your Ability,
OR Qualifications, To Receive Better Employment"?....
Just Think About The Question & Reply If You Wish..
~END Of SPEECH ~
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