HB 2281 Is a Lesson for African Americans in Arizona - We Need to STAY Informed about the Legislative Process!

Submitted by Tremaine Jasper, Owner of PhxSoul.com

Have you read HB 2281? The official document is only five pages long and I strongly encourage African Americans to become educated before speaking out against it.

HB 2281 prohibits schools from having courses which "promote the overthrow of the United States government," "promote resentment toward a race or class of people," "are designed primarily for pupils of a particular ethnic group," or "advocate ethnic solidarity instead of treatment of pupils as individuals.

This bill specifically targets an ethnic-studies curriculum in the Tucson Unified School District that supposedly teaches La Raza studies (Mexican-American studies) that has "promoted resentment toward one race" according to Tom Horne, the state superintendent of public instruction.

Depending on the media slant that you read, this ethnic-studies program is academically successful and students of all races are actively involved in the classes OR it is a one-sided ethnic class that promotes a “radical separatist agenda” and “revolutionary curriculum.”

Since there are so many opposing views, it's difficult to tell who's right and who's wrong!

I haven't sat in the classes to see if the teachers are spewing hate against white people. If so, this program is dead wrong.

However, if you read comments from the actual students, the classes aren’t designed for just one race. The classes consist of students of all ethnicities and races. One pupil even says, “We’re not planning any revolutions. We’re not being anti-American. So far, all I’ve seen is patriotism in the class; our love for the U.S.” Read this article for the students' perspective on the Tucson's ethnic studies program.  

For everyone who says that the school won't be allowed to teach African American history, HB 2281 clearly states that it DOES NOT "restrict or prohibit the instruction of the holocaust, any other instance of genocide or this historical oppression of a particular group of people based on ethnicity, race, or class."

In other words, African American history classes are still OK.

But HB 2281 is extremely damaging because it will make our teachers extremely apprehensive about how they educate our youth about our history and our current accomplishments. Teachers are already handcuffed by reduced budgets - now they have to worry about whether their curriculum will offend our sensitive white politicians! That's just ridiculous!

I'm absolutely disgusted with how our state government is introducing all of this racially motivated legislation! It's clear to me that certain politicians are waging all-out war against Hispanics! They are not concerned how Arizona's citizens and the rest of the world will react to their ignorant ideas. As a result, Arizona is losing millions of dollars due to boycotts and reduced tourism!

Moreover, I'm disturbed at how these proposals seem to just creep up on everyone! Believe it or not, the media provided news coverage about SB 1070 and HB 2281 well before both laws were signed by Gov. Jan Brewer.

We're still not out of the woods ... more racist agendas are on the way! We need to learn from SB 1070 and HB 2281 and do a better job or reading our newspapers and watching news programs so we can stay in the know. And then we need to challenge our politicians - especially our African American politicans and the Arizona African American Legislative and Leadership Conference - to stand up and put a halt to these misguided laws!

Comments

[Maria]

I currently reside in the State of Michigan and was considering relocating to Arizona after a close relative relocated to Arizona after the downturn of the auto industry here in the Midwest. I also have a wonderful pastor who has a second home in Arizona, thus giving me another reason to consider the move. After all the news coverage, debates, and uprise about the immigration law, I'm left wondering if maybe that would be a good decision. I was also concerned about some blogs and comments I have heard regarding the "lack of black culture" for those of color in Arizona. I come from a racially mixed family and have always had friends of other races. I am wondering if there is an area I should focus on relocating to, and others I should stay away from. Although I am no longer married, I do have children who just don't see color, and I am concerned that they be comfortable. Any advice would be appreciated, thank you kindly. By the way, the jukebox here is awesome.

[J. Shoulders]

Bottom line, if you don't know where you come from, you'll never know where you're going. As long as a few whites can maintain control of what students are taught, other American peoples histories are relegated to "blurbs" and jots in the history books. As "minority" parents, it's up to us to teach our children who they are first, before they even walk in the classroom.

[Z. Williams]

Look up the history of La Raza and perhaps you'll have a clearer picture as to why it has been banned. Take back Mexican lands? Yes.