Thread by @nhannahjones

I was shaking reading this story today. I think about every story we've seen about the get-tough schools pushing black kids to academic success, how willingly we buy into the narrative, applaud it, because we think this is what black kids need and deserve.
nytimes.com/2018/11/30/us/…

These kids were physically and emotionally abused, they were set up to fail, and for this the Landry's received national fame and attention by very good journalists because when it come to black children we do not question the methods. We assume they are necessary.

This is an extreme case & this was phenomenal reporting by @EricaLG & @ktbenner. But we have seen this narrative again and again. Schools where kids cannot talk in the halls, go to the restroom, get humiliated for minor infractions. We accept this as long as test scores are high.

We accept this treatment because these kids are black and we believe they must be controlled, they must be severely disciplined, they must be forced to care about their educations. And we hold up these stories without scrutiny because they fulfill the views we already have.

But this also speaks to the desperation of black parents to secure a quality education for their children in a country that almost universally ensures that most black kids will not receive one. This story is a national shame.

The absolute worst part, these kids underwent what I believe is criminal abuse and did not even receive an education.

I remember watching the clip and alarm bells immediately went off when Landry says he instructs parents that they are under no circumstances to discuss education and school with their children. That is not normal. today.com/video/inside-t…