After the U.S. Conference of Mayors adopted a resolution in favor of teaching Critical Race Theory (CRT) last week, the mayors of Michigan’s largest cities won’t say whether they support the resolution.
The Conference of Mayors defines CRT as a “malleable practice [that] critiques how the social construction of race and institutionalized racism perpetuate a racial caste system that relegates people of color to the bottom tiers and recognizes that race intersects with other identities, including sexuality and gender identity.”
It also suggests that the current teaching of American history does not adequately reflect America’s true history:
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, the nation’s mayors support the implementation of CRT in the public education curriculum to help engage our youth in programming that reflects an accurate, complete account of BIPOC history; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that The United States Conference of Mayors supports access to equitable programs that reflect history, decrease achievement gaps, and better ensure that BIPOC students receive resources to ensure their success upon the completion of their primary education.
The Michigan Star reached out to Mayor Mike Duggan of Detroit, Mayor Andy Schor of Lansing, and Mayor Rosalynn Bliss of Grand Rapids, all Democrats, to see if they would support the U.S. Conference of Mayors’ resolution.
None responded in time for publication.
Megan Crane, who runs communications for Schor, told The Star that she “forwarded your question over to the city, as this is more of an official side question.”
The city never responded.
Author James Lindsay noted on Twitter that several mayors, including those in Boise, Idaho, Portland, Oregon, Louisville, Kentucky, and Chicago, Illinois had already signed the resolution.
Mayors of Boise, Portland, Louisville, and Chicago signed this Clownworld resolution that Critical Race Theory should be taught in public schools.https://t.co/9s6Fd6KskH pic.twitter.com/eDAnjYv1WE
— James Lindsay, full varsity (@ConceptualJames) September 9, 2021
Only three mayors voted against the resolution in the conference: Rochester Hills, Michigan Mayor Bryan Barnett; Findlay, Ohio Mayor Christina Muryn; and Miami, Florida Mayor Francis Suarez.
The nationwide battle over CRT exploded over the summer, after at least 11 states took action to curb the teaching practice in schools.
Parents around the country have flooded local school board meetings to express their displeasure with the curriculum, and even worked to recall school board members who support CRT.
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Pete D’Abrosca is a contributor at The Michigan Star and The Star News Network. Follow Pete on Twitter. Email tips to [email protected].
