State Sen. Knollenberg Makes Racist Comments About Black Students GOP State Senator Marty Knollenberg from Troy is responding to outrage over what he said during an education committee meeting in Lansing Thursday according to WXYZ reports: “You mentioned these school districts failing, and you mention economically disadvantaged and non-white population are the contributors to that. I know we can’t fix that. We can’t make an African-American white. That’s just, it is what it is,” Knollenberg said during the meeting recorded on camera by the state. He was talking about failing school districts all over the state. Natasha Baker, the state school reform officer and Karen McPhee, the senior advisor for education to Gov. Rick Snyder, were answering questions for the committee when the comment was made. Baker responded during the meeting, saying, “We didn’t get here because someone is poor. We didn’t get here because someone is black. We got here for a variety of reasons.” “I was disgusted to hear any human, especially an elected official who is responsible for creating policy, to talk that way,” said Rep Brian Banks, (D-Detroit) “It is clear you have some built in racism. It is clear you are out of touch with reality. As an elected official, as one of your colleagues, you owe us an apology.” “It was as racist a comment as anyone can make,” said David Decker, the President of the American Federation of Teachers in Michigan. “It is scary to think an elected official thinks that. Discuss.
Link:
Race Matters: Michigan State Senator Says Black Schools Could Be “Fixed” By Making Students White
