Excellent and well handled interactions with the audience. If only people who believe it when they are told they are victims would ask themselves if it feels good to feel like a victim. My husband went into the navy in 1957 and spent many days on bread and water in the brig for standing up for himself because he was no one’s victim. He rose to the top of the enlisted rank and then to the top of the warrant officer rank before he retired after 30 years of service. In his first four years he was voted the least likely to be allowed to re-enlist. Growing up in the 50’s and graduating high school in 1967 I know for a fact that things have changed for the better.
Hands down, things are so much better than they used to be! But younger generations have little sense of history or perspective. It’s not their fault, but it’s up to us to gently educate them 🙏
Thank you Monica. Great example of breaking through unhelpful labels in a helpful way. For me anyway! Keep doing what you’re doing. Important, helpful, urgent work.
I’ll confess I’m still trying to figure out the concept of race and what, if anything, it means. Until then, I’ll adhere to Capital B, just as Asians adhere to Capital A and Jews adhere to Capital J. But the use of Capitals does not necessarily mean we are alike in all, or any other, ways.
We are also part of the Capital H race. But we’re still pretty different from one another, aren’t we?
I think Asian is capitalized just as European and African are — in English we capitalize adjectival forms of countries and continents. (Not so in French, for example.) Similarly, we capitalize adjectival forms of religions: Jewish, Catholic, Hindu. But “black” refers to neither geography nor religion (ditto “white”). If Black is capitalized to indicate race, shouldn’t White be as well?
I agree. Unless a writer is required to follow a particular style guide that has devolved to capitalizing the B (thereby demoting the only other race defined by an actual color), why do so?
A great essay. Each of us is an individual. Our ability to quickly observe someone's height, body mass, skin tone and sex yields no clues about their interests, dreams, skills, experiences, or scars. I attended Seattle Public Schools K-12, and from 5th to 12th grade ~70% of the students were black. Other students had European, Japanese, Chinese, Jewish, or Pacific Islands ancestry. Quincy Jones and Jimi Hendrix attended my high school (well before me). More than 45 years ago, I understood much of the shizzawhizza (shiznit) dialect and the many different inflections of the N word. I could do the handshake and the pimp walk. The black beauty parlors carried skin-lightening creams and hair straighteners, and it was popular for students to wear a cake cutter in their 'fros. 23andMe reports I am 51.4% NW European, 47.5% Ashkenazi Jewish, 0.4% Iranian, and 0.3% Tibetan. What is "race"?
I love the trailer for American Fiction, I plan on getting the movie when it comes out. I still need to buy the book and read it as well.
- As a writer, the story hits home, in so many ways.
It would be great if you can write more essays about public meetings like this. It's been decades? since I have stumbled across positive stories like this.
Thanks...
BTW, You mentioned Sharyl Attkisson in your book. I tracked down and read all three of her books, and they go a long way to describing what has happened, from the viewpoint of an Investigative Journalist.
I'm reading through as many books that you mentioned as I can find. They help add to the context of what has been happening with the nonsense.
If FAIR starts getting pushback, it is because you are going against The Narrative. That means that you are over the target.
Having been in the audience that day at that school in Fort Wayne, IN, I can say with certainty that this is an inaccurate account of what happened. You may have captured bits and pieces of what was said, but the spirit of your talk and the feeling among my colleagues as we exited the auditorium was not expressed accurately here. You have no tangible experience in public schools as a student, much less an educator, making you the wrong choice as a speaker that day. Many of us knew that before your talk, but you verified that while you spoke. While I don’t disagree with everything you said, nothing you said was new to me or the teachers I was sitting with that day. We have known for a long time that one of the main factors in the division in our nation is economics. It’s the one constant, no matter the region, racial makeup, or community. This is not new information. But to say that race isn’t a factor is short-sighted and naive. All you managed to do that day was validate the intolerant ideas of our close-minded faculty members and demoralize those of us who want to help our students do more than just tolerate difference. We want them to embrace and celebrate who they are and learn from who their classmates are. To say we simply shouldn’t see color reveals the shallow, over-simplified mindset of a person who doesn’t really want meaningful change. You had absolutely no frame of reference to deliver the message you did that day. Your canned responses—all the same in every TED talk, interview, and speech I’ve seen you deliver—don’t help when offered in a setting you haven’t made an effort to understand. Your personal experiences in the most liberal state in the country, in private boarding schools, at Princeton, at Harvard, and in the entertainment industry hardly qualify you to understand what our students of color struggle with in public schools in one of the most conservative, lily-white states states in the country. As a white woman who has 26 years experience teaching in rural, suburban, and city schools, I can’t claim to be qualified either, so imagine my disappointment when all we got that day was you.
Thank you very much for sharing your thoughts. I think it's important to hear different perspectives, and I always appreciate the opportunity to engage.
First, I have no doubt that you have colleagues who share your opinion. However, nearly a dozen of your colleagues gathered backstage afterward to express their agreement with the spirit of my presentation. I have no way of knowing which group represented the "feeling" among your colleagues, but I think it's acceptable and appropriate for educators to hold different perspectives on these issues, and we should be mindful to respect all of them.
Likewise, I think we do ourselves a disservice when we assume there are "right" or "wrong" people who can speak to certain issues. It's true that I was raised in what is perhaps the most liberal state in the country, that I went to prep school (not boarding school), graduated from Princeton and Harvard, and work in the entertainment industry. But it's also true that I am a black woman who now lives in one of the most conservative, lily-white states in the country, and my son attends public school in this state. Given this, I don't believe my personal experience can or should be disregarded. In a free society, we should all have the right to express our opinions and perspectives, based on our personal experience. I am quite sure that you would encourage your students to do the same in the spirit of inclusivity?
Second, I believe you may have misinterpreted my statements, and I appreciate the opportunity to clarify them here. We certainly agree that economics is a factor that contributes to division in our country. However, I did not say that economics is one of the main factors driving division; I said that it was *the* primary factor. Moreover, I never said that race isn't a factor or that we shouldn't see color.
To be clear, this is what I stated during my presentation:
"I’m not saying that race doesn’t matter, because it does. I’m not saying that wealthiest people in the country aren’t white, because they are.
What I’m saying is that there was once a time when being white guaranteed you were on top, and being black guaranteed you were on the bottom. But not anymore. Now anyone of *any* color can find themselves in the top — or the bottom."
I don't believe there is anything canned about my statement. In fact, I am aware of only a handful of voices on either end of the political spectrum who highlight this point (I would be deeply appreciative if you would share links to the writings or presentations of others who are making this point, as I would very much like to collaborate with them!).
It's impossible to overstate the importance of economics and class in America today. The top 1% of Americans now hold more wealth than the bottom 90%:
Please consider the fact that the bottom 90% of Americans are *not* predominantly Black, Brown, or in any other historically underrepresented group. In 2020, 71% of the country was White.
The math is clear: the socio-economic devastation of America is not being driven by race. Our country is being transformed into a feudal society in which the vast majority of White Americans will soon find themselves impoverished, alongside their Black, Brown, and Yellow brothers and sisters. Now, do we want to come together to stop this unfolding tragedy, or will we bicker among ourselves? This is the choice we face. Martin Luther King Jr. understood this stark choice nearly 60 years ago when he urged Americans of all races to join hands for the Poor People's March in 1968. Sadly, he didn't live to see that happen.
Third, I fully agree that we should encourage students to embrace and celebrate who they are and learn from their classmates. This is precisely why I expressed my concerns with the Power and Control Wheel currently used during Harvard's orientation, which asks incoming freshmen to label themselves and their peers according to race, ethnicity, sex, sexual orientation, and gender. I also stated that while race, ethnicity, sex, sexual orientation, and gender are all important characteristics, they are just some of the many other traits that comprise who we are; they don’t comprise our entire identity. I expressed my belief that telling students to find themselves on a “Power and Control Wheel” only serves to remind them how different they are from each other instead of learning from each other and enjoying each other. How can students embrace and celebrate their differences if they are actively divided from one another?
During my presentation, I advocated for authentic diversity that encourages students to embrace *all * of the different aspects of their lives, personalities, and backgrounds (and their peers) in order to foster a sense of diversity that doesn't value anyone's experience or background as more important or more “diverse” than anyone else’s, and makes students curious, not judgmental. This is the true spirit of inclusivity.
With all due respect, I do not feel my perspective is simplified or represents the mindset of someone who doesn't want meaningful change. I believe my perspective reflects the mindset of someone who understands that the easiest way for elites to win a class war is by pitting racial groups against one another. I believe my perspective reflects the mindset of someone who believes we can't achieve meaningful change in our country by fixating on immutable characteristics to the exclusion of others that are equally as important to any multi-dimensional human being.
Going forward, I hope you will be willing to entertain the perspectives of others on these issues, whether they are parents, faculty, administrators, students, or outside speakers. Because the only way we can grow as a society and fix our systemic problems is by thoughtfully and respectfully considering all thoughts and opinions.
Late to the party but wanted to join in the accolades for this excellent piece. I grew up in a little town in the Deep South. And we were all sorta poor together: same not-great farmland, the same jobs down at the plant. And it had always kinda been that way. We were all together, black and white, poor Southerners. So taking a look at the class issue . . . well, you probably noticed as I did how the racial tension was dialed up once Occupy Wall Street got up and running. OWS had a point. I worked on Wall Street then, and knew.
Also regarding the victimization thing, which you address so eloquently. The true/full story of 1865-1965 may never be told. Yes, there was prejudice and there were horrible things done, but there was also a good amount of decency, affection, friendship and fellowship. Why isn't there more talk about what was achieved? Jazz, blues, a lot of first-rate writers, and as you point out a growing middle class. And together we - black and white - gave birth to Southern culture. Best example: Rick Hall and the Swampers at Muscle Shoals studios in Alabama, backing Otis Redding, Etta James, etc. - my point being, we're Southerners. It is a painful and bloody history, but it's ours together, and I don't think the "meaning" of it should be dictated by a bunch of academics.Right now we (speaking about Southerners, or specially, the people in my part of it; and Southerners is inclusive of blacks and white) have the same set of headaches. And there's a lot of forces that would rather we bicker with each other than start paying attention to what they're doing. Divide and conquer is what they do.
And I think we know by now that what they are doing isn't working.
Profound and full of grace. Brava.
Thank you, my brother 🙏
^^^This!!!! I was going to write my own prop, but you nailed it. Brava, Monica! And, thank you. 🙌🙌🙌🌼
Excellent and well handled interactions with the audience. If only people who believe it when they are told they are victims would ask themselves if it feels good to feel like a victim. My husband went into the navy in 1957 and spent many days on bread and water in the brig for standing up for himself because he was no one’s victim. He rose to the top of the enlisted rank and then to the top of the warrant officer rank before he retired after 30 years of service. In his first four years he was voted the least likely to be allowed to re-enlist. Growing up in the 50’s and graduating high school in 1967 I know for a fact that things have changed for the better.
Hands down, things are so much better than they used to be! But younger generations have little sense of history or perspective. It’s not their fault, but it’s up to us to gently educate them 🙏
Really liked this piece, Monica!
Thank you, Lionlady!
LOVE this, thank you!!!
Thank you, Noel! 🙏🙏
Thank you Monica. Great example of breaking through unhelpful labels in a helpful way. For me anyway! Keep doing what you’re doing. Important, helpful, urgent work.
Except...Capital B. Hard to reconcile the anti-monolith essence of the essay with the pro-monolith Capital B.
I’ll confess I’m still trying to figure out the concept of race and what, if anything, it means. Until then, I’ll adhere to Capital B, just as Asians adhere to Capital A and Jews adhere to Capital J. But the use of Capitals does not necessarily mean we are alike in all, or any other, ways.
We are also part of the Capital H race. But we’re still pretty different from one another, aren’t we?
I think Asian is capitalized just as European and African are — in English we capitalize adjectival forms of countries and continents. (Not so in French, for example.) Similarly, we capitalize adjectival forms of religions: Jewish, Catholic, Hindu. But “black” refers to neither geography nor religion (ditto “white”). If Black is capitalized to indicate race, shouldn’t White be as well?
Indeed you should. We all deserve caps!
I agree. Unless a writer is required to follow a particular style guide that has devolved to capitalizing the B (thereby demoting the only other race defined by an actual color), why do so?
A great essay. Each of us is an individual. Our ability to quickly observe someone's height, body mass, skin tone and sex yields no clues about their interests, dreams, skills, experiences, or scars. I attended Seattle Public Schools K-12, and from 5th to 12th grade ~70% of the students were black. Other students had European, Japanese, Chinese, Jewish, or Pacific Islands ancestry. Quincy Jones and Jimi Hendrix attended my high school (well before me). More than 45 years ago, I understood much of the shizzawhizza (shiznit) dialect and the many different inflections of the N word. I could do the handshake and the pimp walk. The black beauty parlors carried skin-lightening creams and hair straighteners, and it was popular for students to wear a cake cutter in their 'fros. 23andMe reports I am 51.4% NW European, 47.5% Ashkenazi Jewish, 0.4% Iranian, and 0.3% Tibetan. What is "race"?
I love the trailer for American Fiction, I plan on getting the movie when it comes out. I still need to buy the book and read it as well.
- As a writer, the story hits home, in so many ways.
It would be great if you can write more essays about public meetings like this. It's been decades? since I have stumbled across positive stories like this.
Thanks...
BTW, You mentioned Sharyl Attkisson in your book. I tracked down and read all three of her books, and they go a long way to describing what has happened, from the viewpoint of an Investigative Journalist.
I'm reading through as many books that you mentioned as I can find. They help add to the context of what has been happening with the nonsense.
If FAIR starts getting pushback, it is because you are going against The Narrative. That means that you are over the target.
But I digress.
My wife and I watched "American Fiction" streaming on Amazon Prime last night. Well done all around. Thank you @Monica Harris for the recommendation!
My pleasure! Glad you enjoyed the movie, Ben 👍
I had a hard time placing Felix Leiter at first!
The actor was also in Hunger Games and in The Westworld TV series.
I knew that I'd seen him in the Bond films as the CIA guy, then had to check imdb.com to be sure. It was driving me nuts. HA!
Having been in the audience that day at that school in Fort Wayne, IN, I can say with certainty that this is an inaccurate account of what happened. You may have captured bits and pieces of what was said, but the spirit of your talk and the feeling among my colleagues as we exited the auditorium was not expressed accurately here. You have no tangible experience in public schools as a student, much less an educator, making you the wrong choice as a speaker that day. Many of us knew that before your talk, but you verified that while you spoke. While I don’t disagree with everything you said, nothing you said was new to me or the teachers I was sitting with that day. We have known for a long time that one of the main factors in the division in our nation is economics. It’s the one constant, no matter the region, racial makeup, or community. This is not new information. But to say that race isn’t a factor is short-sighted and naive. All you managed to do that day was validate the intolerant ideas of our close-minded faculty members and demoralize those of us who want to help our students do more than just tolerate difference. We want them to embrace and celebrate who they are and learn from who their classmates are. To say we simply shouldn’t see color reveals the shallow, over-simplified mindset of a person who doesn’t really want meaningful change. You had absolutely no frame of reference to deliver the message you did that day. Your canned responses—all the same in every TED talk, interview, and speech I’ve seen you deliver—don’t help when offered in a setting you haven’t made an effort to understand. Your personal experiences in the most liberal state in the country, in private boarding schools, at Princeton, at Harvard, and in the entertainment industry hardly qualify you to understand what our students of color struggle with in public schools in one of the most conservative, lily-white states states in the country. As a white woman who has 26 years experience teaching in rural, suburban, and city schools, I can’t claim to be qualified either, so imagine my disappointment when all we got that day was you.
Hi ecr,
Thank you very much for sharing your thoughts. I think it's important to hear different perspectives, and I always appreciate the opportunity to engage.
First, I have no doubt that you have colleagues who share your opinion. However, nearly a dozen of your colleagues gathered backstage afterward to express their agreement with the spirit of my presentation. I have no way of knowing which group represented the "feeling" among your colleagues, but I think it's acceptable and appropriate for educators to hold different perspectives on these issues, and we should be mindful to respect all of them.
Likewise, I think we do ourselves a disservice when we assume there are "right" or "wrong" people who can speak to certain issues. It's true that I was raised in what is perhaps the most liberal state in the country, that I went to prep school (not boarding school), graduated from Princeton and Harvard, and work in the entertainment industry. But it's also true that I am a black woman who now lives in one of the most conservative, lily-white states in the country, and my son attends public school in this state. Given this, I don't believe my personal experience can or should be disregarded. In a free society, we should all have the right to express our opinions and perspectives, based on our personal experience. I am quite sure that you would encourage your students to do the same in the spirit of inclusivity?
Second, I believe you may have misinterpreted my statements, and I appreciate the opportunity to clarify them here. We certainly agree that economics is a factor that contributes to division in our country. However, I did not say that economics is one of the main factors driving division; I said that it was *the* primary factor. Moreover, I never said that race isn't a factor or that we shouldn't see color.
To be clear, this is what I stated during my presentation:
"I’m not saying that race doesn’t matter, because it does. I’m not saying that wealthiest people in the country aren’t white, because they are.
What I’m saying is that there was once a time when being white guaranteed you were on top, and being black guaranteed you were on the bottom. But not anymore. Now anyone of *any* color can find themselves in the top — or the bottom."
I don't believe there is anything canned about my statement. In fact, I am aware of only a handful of voices on either end of the political spectrum who highlight this point (I would be deeply appreciative if you would share links to the writings or presentations of others who are making this point, as I would very much like to collaborate with them!).
It's impossible to overstate the importance of economics and class in America today. The top 1% of Americans now hold more wealth than the bottom 90%:
https://www.seattletimes.com/business/economy/nations-top-1-percent-now-have-greater-wealth-than-the-bottom-90-percent/
Please consider the fact that the bottom 90% of Americans are *not* predominantly Black, Brown, or in any other historically underrepresented group. In 2020, 71% of the country was White.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_Americans#:~:text=the%20U.S.,-%25%20change&text=the%20U.S.,-%25%20change&text=Source%3A%20United%20States%20census%20bureau.&text=White%20Americans%20constitute%20the%20majority,who%20identified%20as%20%27white%20alone.
The math is clear: the socio-economic devastation of America is not being driven by race. Our country is being transformed into a feudal society in which the vast majority of White Americans will soon find themselves impoverished, alongside their Black, Brown, and Yellow brothers and sisters. Now, do we want to come together to stop this unfolding tragedy, or will we bicker among ourselves? This is the choice we face. Martin Luther King Jr. understood this stark choice nearly 60 years ago when he urged Americans of all races to join hands for the Poor People's March in 1968. Sadly, he didn't live to see that happen.
Third, I fully agree that we should encourage students to embrace and celebrate who they are and learn from their classmates. This is precisely why I expressed my concerns with the Power and Control Wheel currently used during Harvard's orientation, which asks incoming freshmen to label themselves and their peers according to race, ethnicity, sex, sexual orientation, and gender. I also stated that while race, ethnicity, sex, sexual orientation, and gender are all important characteristics, they are just some of the many other traits that comprise who we are; they don’t comprise our entire identity. I expressed my belief that telling students to find themselves on a “Power and Control Wheel” only serves to remind them how different they are from each other instead of learning from each other and enjoying each other. How can students embrace and celebrate their differences if they are actively divided from one another?
During my presentation, I advocated for authentic diversity that encourages students to embrace *all * of the different aspects of their lives, personalities, and backgrounds (and their peers) in order to foster a sense of diversity that doesn't value anyone's experience or background as more important or more “diverse” than anyone else’s, and makes students curious, not judgmental. This is the true spirit of inclusivity.
With all due respect, I do not feel my perspective is simplified or represents the mindset of someone who doesn't want meaningful change. I believe my perspective reflects the mindset of someone who understands that the easiest way for elites to win a class war is by pitting racial groups against one another. I believe my perspective reflects the mindset of someone who believes we can't achieve meaningful change in our country by fixating on immutable characteristics to the exclusion of others that are equally as important to any multi-dimensional human being.
Going forward, I hope you will be willing to entertain the perspectives of others on these issues, whether they are parents, faculty, administrators, students, or outside speakers. Because the only way we can grow as a society and fix our systemic problems is by thoughtfully and respectfully considering all thoughts and opinions.
Fantastic post! Glad you're back! Sabrinalabow.substack.com
Thanks, Sabrina!
Late to the party but wanted to join in the accolades for this excellent piece. I grew up in a little town in the Deep South. And we were all sorta poor together: same not-great farmland, the same jobs down at the plant. And it had always kinda been that way. We were all together, black and white, poor Southerners. So taking a look at the class issue . . . well, you probably noticed as I did how the racial tension was dialed up once Occupy Wall Street got up and running. OWS had a point. I worked on Wall Street then, and knew.
Also regarding the victimization thing, which you address so eloquently. The true/full story of 1865-1965 may never be told. Yes, there was prejudice and there were horrible things done, but there was also a good amount of decency, affection, friendship and fellowship. Why isn't there more talk about what was achieved? Jazz, blues, a lot of first-rate writers, and as you point out a growing middle class. And together we - black and white - gave birth to Southern culture. Best example: Rick Hall and the Swampers at Muscle Shoals studios in Alabama, backing Otis Redding, Etta James, etc. - my point being, we're Southerners. It is a painful and bloody history, but it's ours together, and I don't think the "meaning" of it should be dictated by a bunch of academics.Right now we (speaking about Southerners, or specially, the people in my part of it; and Southerners is inclusive of blacks and white) have the same set of headaches. And there's a lot of forces that would rather we bicker with each other than start paying attention to what they're doing. Divide and conquer is what they do.
And I think we know by now that what they are doing isn't working.