I was disappointed to hear that 14 legislators — white middle class, like me — called for the resignation or firing of John Marshall, head of the Diversity, Equity and Poverty Department in Jefferson County Public Schools. On his own time and social media account, Marshall had responded to people asking how to deal with racist texts sent to some African American students at Southern High. Marshall said, “…know THE MAJORITY of whites could care less about you & have no issues harming you or yours.”Did the white legislators first ask their Black colleagues whether Marshall’s message rang true about the Black experience in Kentucky? No. The white legislators said “such reckless speech inciting hatred based on skin color should be grounds for immediate termination.”Inciting hatred? No. Marshall was simply naming it — from the students’ experience and his own lived truth. Racism and white supremacy still exist in our community.
Opinion: JCPS equity officer spoke truth about racism. Now KY lawmakers want him gone.
Rooting out all discrimination across our community so that students have a sense of belonging and inclusion is everyone’s job. Recent research across Kentucky’s public schools tells us — and these same legislators — that building stronger, respectful and supportive diverse relationships helps every student achieve closer to their full potential.
—Chris Harmer, 40206
This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: John Marshall was calling out racism, not inciting it | Letters
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