Cracking down on anti-racism instruction does not erase the history of racism in the United States nor the 'anti-American' conduct experienced by Black Americans following the end of slavery. A short thread 1/x theguardian.com/us-news/2020/s…
Indeed, the private harms that defined slavery morphed in its aftermath to state & federal harms carried out under the banner of 'separate but equal' and a host of other discriminatory practices. If any body should learn about anti-racism, it should be government employees. 2/x 
Nor is it just racial bias that's worthy of address. Sadly, the government has been complicit in sexism, targeting and spying on women, including students considered to be disruptive--when in fact they simply exercised their constitutional rights. 3/x
Reminiscent of the Lavender Scare witch hunt, where the federal government sought to ferret out anyone who was gay, supportive of gay people, or related to gay people working in their ranks. These individuals were spied upon, threatened, & fired. Fear & power can be lethal. 4/x
Yet, cracking down on tools that teach Americans about their history, does not wipe that history from existence. Let's not forget the horrors inflicted on children preparing for Sunday school--those who died and those who survived, harmed for the rest of their lives. 5/x
Or the devastation in the aftermath, with local authorities so corrupt and complicit in white supremacy that they failed to properly prosecute individuals that would plot to kill children preparing for Sunday school. 6/x
Stripping away instruction about racism shows a poor understanding and respect for the #constitution, #FirstAmendment, and fear of American history. The bravery of young people in the 1950s and 60s and the cowardice of those who harmed them...this too is America's legacy. 7/x
The erasure that's being called for is dangerous and a disservice is done to the legacies of brave Americans who dared to forge a more perfect union by registering people to #vote and were killed in the process. 8/x
What's being called for is not rooted in austerity or fiscal responsibility. Rather canceling instruction on racism and white supremacy is about erasure, including state complicity in violence, intolerance, and discrimination. 9/9
