Page 11 - Nebraska Report January/February 2012

and books. She came from a family that from having to see Confederate flags
had a six-figure income. When I asked paraded through the National Capitol Political Contacts
if her White professor/advisor gave that during Trump-incited White supremacist
secret coded information to Students of insurrections.) The White House
Color, she said she did not know. And Lisa Roy, who is the director for 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
her case, sadly, is not the exception. program development for Buffett Early Washington, DC 20500
The aforementioned “structure” enables Childhood Institute at UNO, was quoted Comment Line: 202-456-1111
Whites—by their privileged status—to in the article as saying that “Early child- 202-456-1414; Fax 202-456-2993
work the system and avail themselves of hood education can help close the gap in www.whitehouse.gov/contact/
its goodies and perks in a way Students of education outcomes.” That’s all well and
Color simply cannot… All of which only good. But we’ve had Head Start programs Sen. Deb Fischer
serves to perpetuate the educational (and, for over 60 years and The Buffett Early 454 Russell Senate Office Bldg.
by extension, the income and health) gaps Childhood Institute has been around for Washington, D.C. 20510
we’re seeing now. over 15 years. Is there any evidence to 202-224-6551
Under current trends, it’s projected demonstrate that the ‘educational gap’ 202-228-1325 (FAX)
it will take about 240 years for African has narrowed? 402-391-3411 (Omaha)
Americans to narrow the wealth gap with The World-Herald article concluded 402-441-4600 (Lincoln)
Whites. Impeded by these institutional, with a statement from the Nebraska De- www.fischer.senate.gov
‘structural’ barriers, there is no way Af- partment of Education that “state officials Sen. Ben Sasse
rican Americans can compete academi- are working to address those gaps in a va- 107 Russell Senate Office Bldg.
cally. No matter how hard we try, racially riety of ways, including providing extra Washington, DC 20510
insensitive educators will not properly support for low-performing schools.” The 202-224-4224
teach Students of Color in their White- reporter however failed to ask a critical 402-476-1400 (Lincoln)
biased institutions. Just as in dealing follow-up question: Since the department www.sasse.senate.gov
with racist judges and law enforcement is state-funded and has been in existence Rep. Jeff Fortenberry, Dist. 1
officials, African Americans will not get for almost 70 years, what specific tasks 1514 Longworth House Office Bldg.
a fair break or be given the opportunity have they undertaken... what achieve- Washington, D.C. 20515
to grow as persons within systems that ments can they point to? 202-225-4806
profit off their misery (and/or demise). What I can tell you is that many 402-438-1598 (Lincoln)
The State of Nebraska’s recent decision African Americans in Nebraska are not https://fortenberry.house.gov/contact-
to build a new prison (despite decreas- impressed. They resent that Nebraska me/offices
ing crime rates) reveals what a ‘cash Department of Education officials have Rep. Don Bacon
cow’ the incarceration industry is in this rarely traveled to North or South Omaha 1024 Longworth House Office Bldg.
state—and how much government means to talk with residents in the community, Washington, DC 20515
to continue profiting off the backs of Af- and that there is virtually no ‘grass-tops’ Phone: (202) 225-4155
rican Americans and other Non-Whites. or parental representation from their https://bacon.house.gov/
In fairness to the reporter, I should feeding grounds. They’re also fed up that Rep. Adrian Smith, District 3
note that the article does acknowledge the half a century after Dr. Martin Luther 502 Cannon House Office Bldg.
larger problem of “systemic racism”. Dr. King, Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech at Washington, DC 20515
Jasmine Marcelin, an assistant professor the “March on Washington” they’re still Phone: (202) 225-6435
in the Department of Internal Medicine having to daily put up with this crap. Fax: (202) 225-0207
at the University of Nebraska Medical Closing the educational gap between https://adriansmith.house.gov/
Center, specifically referenced the impact Whites and People of Color will never
of “weathering”—a term she said is used occur without direct face-to-face engage- Capitol Hill 202-224-3121
to describe “the daily stress and impact ment with the affected communities and State Capitol 402-471-2311
of structural racism on individuals of far-greater diversity in educational hiring. State Senator, District #
color” who regularly have to deal with Unless schools and districts are populated State Capitol; PO Box 94604
everything from “microaggressions” to with multi-cultural staff—from teachers Lincoln, NE 68509-4604
“overt racism”. all the way up to administrators—’multi- Governor Pete Ricketts
Unfortunately, the ‘educational rem- cultural education’ is a rhetorical deceit… P.O. Box 94848
edies’ proposed in the remainder of the And we will never close the educational Lincoln, NE 68509-4848
article have a very spotty track record of or any other gap before this country de- 402-471-2244; Fax 402-471-6031
success and fall woefully short of what’s volves into chaos once and for all.
needed to bring about concrete change
(…change that will spare Black people JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2021 NE REPORT, P. 11