Latest news with #ThroughMyEyes
Black America Web
4 days ago
- Politics
- Black America Web
Education Secretary Linda McMahon Didn't Know About The Tulsa Race Massacre When Asked About ‘Illegal DEI' In Education
Source: The Washington Post / Getty Here's a question: Is there literally anyone in President Donald Trump's cabinet who is actually qualified for the position they have been appointed to? I ask because it appears that all of the highest offices in America (including the presidency) are being run by people who don't know things. We have a Homeland Security secretary who failed to correctly define habeas corpus; a Health and Human Services secretary who takes his grandchildren with him to swim in toxic sewage and has declared that people shouldn't take medical advice from him; a Secretary of Defense who has a remedial grasp on who our foreign allies are and can't seem to get it through his head that Signal group chats are not appropriate platforms to discuss confedential war plans on; a tech CEO who recently left the Department of Government Efficiency because it became more and more clear he didn't know what he was doing (Elon won't admit it, but that's why), and a host of other administrators who appear to be clueless when it comes to the thing they're supposed ot be experts in. This brings us to Education Secretary Linda McMahon, the former pro wrestling mogul who somehow got appointed as the highest educational authority in the nation, despite her apparent ignorance of American history, specifically Black history, and, even more specifically, the Tulsa Race Massacre of 1921. During a congressional hearing on Wednesday, McMahon was pressed by Rep. Summer Lee (D-Pa.) to clarify which history lessons would be considered 'illegal DEI' under the Trump administration, which has made it a top priority to do all it can to ban diversity initiatives into 'woke' oblivion under the guise of promoting meritocracy — despite being, observably, the most woefully underqualified federal administration in recent history. Lee's inquiry turned into an impromptu quiz on Black history, which McMahon embarrassingly failed. 'Would it be 'illegal DEI' for a lesson plan on the Tulsa Race Massacre?' Lee asked McMahon. 'I'd have to get back to you on that,' McMahon said. 'Do you know what the Tulsa Race Massacre is?' Lee asked. 'I'd like to look into it more and get back to you on it,' McMahon replied. The Tulsa Race Massacre — in which hundreds of residents in the affluent Black town of Tulsa, Oklahoma, were lynched and had their homes and businesses destroyed by a massive white mob — happened more than a century ago, but don't worry, guys, sooner or later the highest educational authority in the land will learn about it, and then she'll get back to us on wheter it should be illegal to teach it. Also, Ruby Bridges, we're going to have to give McMahon some time on her story, too. 'How about the book 'Through My Eyes,' by Ruby Bridges, for instance?' Lee asked. 'I haven't read that,' McMahon responded. 'Have you learned about Ruby Bridges?' Lee said. 'If you have specific examples, you'd like to…' McMahon responded before Lee cut her off to note, 'That was a specific example… I named a specific book.' Besides the fact that a federal education secretary should be more well-versed on these subjects, this is simply what happens when Trump has white people out here deciding how much Black history is too much Black history. McMahon didn't know anything about the most well-known race riot in American history, and she didn't appear to know much (if anything) about the first Black student to attend a desegregated school in Louisiana — but she's the authority on which Black history subjects constitute 'illegal DEI'? (Also, how TF would Black history, or any history for that matter, fall under the DEI label at all. It's almost as if this administration is so racist that any curriculum that doesn't center white historical figures and events needs to be spot-checked to see if it passes the white fragility smell test, or else it gets slapped with the label that has become white America's favorite new racial slur.) Anyway, Lee has been appropriately unkind while ripping McMahon and the Trump administration for their anti-DEI propaganda, which is only made worse through their glaring lack of historical knowledge (or knowledge about anything, honestly). 'Even if Secretary McMahon was better versed in American history, there is no doubt her department would further attempt to whitewash history and ensure students don't have access to the facts,' Lee told The Grio, adding that the Trump administration's 'lack of knowledge, denial of history, and open racism' doesn't mean students across the country 'should be deprived of learning opportunities or access to a quality education.' Lee had smoke for the Trump administration during Wednesday's congressional session, too. 'When [you] call for removing of equity and inclusion and diversity and accessibility from schools in favor of 'traditional American values,' it's indistinguishable from … post-Civil War South advocating to rewrite history with the Lost Cause narrative [and] to censor truths about slavery,' she said. 'This department's financial aid policies harken back to a time when higher education was reserved for affluent, well-connected and predominantly white students.' Exactly! SEE ALSO: Trump's Job Corps 'Pause' Is MAGA's Plan To Eliminate Poor Youth MIT Becomes Latest University To Back Away From DEI Initiatives SEE ALSO Education Secretary Linda McMahon Didn't Know About The Tulsa Race Massacre When Asked About 'Illegal DEI' In Education was originally published on Black America Web Featured Video CLOSE
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Education Secretary Won't Say If She Knows What The Tulsa Race Massacre Is
Education Secretary Linda McMahon deflected when asked if she knew what the Tulsa Race Massacre was during a Wednesday congressional hearing, telling lawmakers that she intends to 'look into it more.' McMahon's response comes as Rep. Summer Lee (D-Pa.) pressed her about history lessons that would be considered 'illegal DEI' by the Trump administration. (DEI stands for diversity, equity and inclusion and has been used by Republicans as shorthand for initiatives addressing race and gender, among other topics.) The comments are also the latest to suggest that McMahon — a former pro wrestling executive who's had little education policy experience — could use a lesson or two herself. 'Would it be 'illegal DEI' for a lesson plan on the Tulsa Race Massacre?' Lee asked McMahon during the Wednesday panel. 'I'd have to get back to you on that,' McMahon said. 'Do you know what the Tulsa Race Massacre is?' Lee asked. 'I'd like to look into it more and get back to you on it,' McMahon replied. McMahon was similarly evasive when asked if lessons involving civil rights trailblazer Ruby Bridges would be deemed 'illegal DEI.' 'How about the book 'Through My Eyes,' by Ruby Bridges, for instance?' Lee asked. 'I haven't read that,' McMahon responded. 'Have you learned about Ruby Bridges?' Lee said. 'If you have specific examples, you'd like to –' McMahon countered. 'That was a specific example... I named a specific book,' Lee emphasized. McMahon's exchange with Lee stood out both for her refusal to acknowledge whether she knew about major historical events as well as her reluctance to answer if the White House would target lessons about them. A January executive order from the Trump administration called for agencies to find ways to claw back resources from schools that advance 'gender ideology or discriminatory equity ideology' in their curriculum. And in April, the White House required K-12 schools to certify that they were not engaging in 'illegal DEI practices' in order to receive federal funding, an act that's been blocked by a federal judge. The Department of Education did not immediately respond to a HuffPost request for comment. Both of Lee's questions referred to significant events in U.S. history: The Tulsa Race Massacre took place in 1921 and was 'one of America's deadliest acts of domestic terrorism,' Taryn Finley previously wrote for HuffPost. During the attack, an armed white mob decimated a neighborhood in Tulsa known as Black Wall Street, killing as many as 300 people. And in 1960, Bridges was the first Black child to desegregate an all-white elementary school in New Orleans. Iconic images from that time captured Bridges, at age 6, flanked by U.S. Marshals and white crowds jeering as she entered the building. Lee emphasized that such lessons are critical for students as the Trump administration has sought to hold federal funding captive if schools advance programs that it disagrees with. 'Their lack of knowledge, denial of history, and open racism doesn't mean students across America should be deprived of learning opportunities or access to a quality education,' she told HuffPost in a statement. 'Clearly they're still needed.'
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Education Secretary Linda McMahon refuses to say if teaching kids that Trump lost in 2020 is ‘illegal DEI'
Donald Trump's education secretary has refused to say if she believes school curricula that correctly state Joe Biden won the 2020 election amount to 'illegal DEI.' Secretary Linda McMahon instead repeatedly told House lawmakers on Wednesday that social studies 'should all be taught accurately' and that 'we should hear all sides.' During a House Education and Workforce Committee hearing, Democratic Rep. Summer Lee, of Pennsylvania, repeatedly asked McMahon whether she believes certain lesson plans constitute 'illegal DEI' — referring to the Trump administration's threat to withhold federal funding to schools it believes are engaged in 'illegal DEI practices.' In a heated back and forth, Lee pressed McMahon to say whether curriculum on the 2020 election and African-American history lessons on the Tulsa race massacre and civil rights activist Ruby Bridges are considered 'illegal' diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives. McMahon said she would 'look into' them. Asked whether she even knows who and what those people and events are, McMahon fumbled for answers. 'Do you know what the Tulsa race massacre is?' asked Lee, referencing a white mob's bloody destruction of a bustling Black town in Oklahoma in 1921. 'I'd like to look into it more,' McMahon said. 'How about the book Through My Eyes by Ruby Bridges?' Lee asked. McMahon said she hasn't read it. 'Have you learned about Ruby Bridges?' said Lee, referring to the first Black child to enter an all-white school in the South during desegregation efforts in 1960. 'If you have specific examples—,' McMahon replied. 'That was an incredibly specific example,' Lee fired back. The congresswoman then asked whether social studies standards that teach that Biden won the 2020 presidential election would also be considered 'illegal DEI.' McMahon said social studies 'should all be taught accurately.' Lee demanded a 'yes or no' answer. McMahon repeated her reply. 'I think I have said we should teach accurately,' she said. 'We should hear all sides.' Lee's questions follow newly established curriculum standards in Oklahoma, where the state's controversial schools superintendent ushered through sweeping changes that introduce 2020 election conspiracy theories into school curriculums. Students will be required to 'identify discrepancies' in the 2020 presidential election, appearing to amplify Trump's baseless narrative that the election was fraudulent. Students will also learn about 'the security risks of mail-in balloting, sudden batch dumps' and 'an unforeseen record number of voters,' appearing to repeat unsupported claims that bolster conspiracy theories surrounding election results. McMahon is appearing before members of Congress this week to present a budget for a department that the president wants to eliminate entirely. The White House wants to reduce the department's budget by 15 percent in 2026, targeting a range of programs supporting K-12 students and higher education. Advocacy groups fear the cuts will be particularly devastating to students from lower-income families and in rural areas, and 'ultimately harm schools and the students they serve,' according to the School Superintendents Association.
The Citizen
19-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Citizen
‘I've outlived my mother': Bongani Fassie reflects on Brenda Fassie's life ahead of doccie launch
The 41-year-old, the only son of the music icon, is preparing to launch a documentary about being Brenda's son titled 'Through My Eyes'. Bongani Fassie is set to launch a documentary that looks at his life as Brenda's only child. Picture: bonganifassie/Instagram The phrase 'life begins at 40' stems from the idea that one truly gets to appreciate life at that age after amassing maturity following the wild years of youth. The saying couldn't hold more relevance to Bongani Fassie, the child of Brenda Fassie. The 41-year-old, the only son of the music icon, is preparing to launch a documentary about being Brenda's son titled Through My Eyes. 'One thing I've realised is that I've actually outlived my mother. It's a bittersweet feeling,' Bongani told The Citizen. Brenda was 39 years old when she passed away in 2004. The documentary will be launched on Thursday and is expected to remind South Africans of a genius who blazed a trail with unfettered zest for life. ALSO READ: Brenda Fassie remembered: 20 Years since her iconic legacy lives on [VIDEO] Owning the narrative Before and after her passing, films and books have been written and made about the colourful entertainer. In 1994, filmmaker Chris Austin filmed Brenda in the documentary Brenda Fassie – Not a Bad Girl, while South African author and journalist Bongani Madondo published the book I'm Not Your Weekend Special in 2014. Bongani says he's always been an afterthought in the stories about his mother's life, but he says he has a story to tell too. 'The story has been told over and over again. The narrative has always been the same: when you talk about Brenda, we include Bongani. However, this time, the story is about Bongani, and it will include Brenda,' Bongani. Despite her stardom, Bongani said Brenda was a mother first and that he was picking up where she left off as the heir of her estate. 'I am now taking over the legacy in its entirety,' he said. ALSO READ: Brenda Fassie's death: 'Who switched off the life support?' 'Unpacking everything' Bongani says he wants to give viewers insight into some of the significant events in Brenda's life. 'How it truly was when Brenda passed away, what happened in the dark…how you survive and persevere through the trials and tribulations that come with being the child of a legend; I'm pretty much going to be unpacking every little thing.' 'The story has not been told fully. We cannot exclude the family legacy and heritage she was born into. There is still a lot of behind the scenes that the public isn't aware of, there are people who are not in the public domain who can tell us so much more about her.' Following the documentary, a book and new music sampled from Brenda's long list of hits are expected to be released. NOW READ: Brenda Fassie's music catalogue is now available digitally
Business Upturn
27-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Business Upturn
Dr. Tamara Moodie LLC Launches Three New Autism-Focused Publications to Support Empathy, Awareness, and Inclusivity
Miami, FL, April 27, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — In a significant step toward advancing autism awareness and fostering inclusive understanding, Dr. Tamara Moodie LLC announces the publication of three insightful works: Walking In My Shoes, Through My Eyes, I Am Still Like You… Autism Through My Point of View , and Empowering Autism Journal . Authored by Dr. Tamara Moodie, these books serve as valuable resources for families, educators, and communities navigating the diverse realities of autism. They provide thoughtful perspectives and practical tools designed to deepen understanding of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and promote the value of neurodiversity in our communities. Walking In My Shoes, Through My Eyes & I Am Still Like You… Autism Through My Point of View Exploring Autism Through Empathy and Storytelling The first of the new releases, 'Walking In My Shoes, Through My Eyes,' offers readers a unique opportunity to step into the world of a young child with autism. Told from the perspective of the child, the story is carefully crafted to illustrate the emotional and sensory experiences faced by individuals on the spectrum. This illustrated paperback bridges the gap between understanding and empathy, creating a dialogue that encourages kindness, patience, and deeper awareness among children and adults alike. The accessible narrative style and vibrant visuals aim to empower readers to view autism not as a challenge, but as a different way of experiencing the world. 'Walking In My Shoes, Through My Eyes' is available now on Amazon. Link to purchase. A Parent's Perspective: Navigating the Autism Journey In 'I Am Still Like You… Autism Through My Point of View,' Dr. Moodie addresses the complex emotional journey parents face when navigating an autism diagnosis. This book is grounded in understanding and shared humanity, offering a lens through which readers can explore the nuances of parenting a neurodivergent child. The narrative delves into themes such as acceptance, discovery, and emotional resilience, steering clear of medical advice and maintaining an objective tone suitable for a general audience. The book contributes to awareness while acknowledging the real-life emotional complexities involved. Now available in paperback. Link to purchase. Practical Tools for Caregivers: Empowering Autism Journal Rounding out the trio is the 'Empowering Autism Journal' —a guided resource for parents, caregivers, and educators. The journal features reflection prompts, daily planning tools, and motivational quotes tailored to support those involved in the daily care of children with autism. Its design provides both structure and emotional support, encouraging users to track milestones, document thoughts, and prioritize self-care. The journal is now available via Amazon. Link to purchase. Community Engagement and Upcoming Book Event Dr. Moodie, founder of South Florida Autism Charter School (SFACS)—the largest school in South Florida exclusively serving students with autism—brings more than 28 years of experience in education and autism advocacy. As an expert in autism, her leadership in hosting over 40 annual community workshops underscores her commitment to creating inclusive educational spaces and promoting public understanding of autism. In continued support of her mission, Books & Books in Coral Gables, FL, will host an afternoon with Dr. Moodie on Sunday, April 27, 2025, from 5:00 to 6:00 PM. The event will center around her new title 'I Am Still Like You… Autism Through My Point of View' and includes a live reading and discussion session. The event location is 265 Aragon Avenue, Coral Gables, FL 33134. The public is encouraged to attend and engage in this timely and meaningful conversation. A Voice of Understanding: Quote from Dr. Tamara Moodie 'In every child with autism, there is a voice waiting to be heard, a story waiting to be told,' said Dr. Tamara Moodie. 'My hope is that these books help bridge the gap between misunderstanding and empathy, not just for families affected by autism, but for anyone willing to see the world through someone else's eyes.' All three publications are currently available for purchase online via Amazon. Additional information about Dr. Moodie's educational initiatives and community outreach can be found at About Dr. Tamara Moodie LLC Dr. Tamara Moodie LLC is an education-focused organization headquartered in Miami, Florida. The company is committed to producing content that supports autism awareness, inclusion, and lifelong learning. Led by Dr. Tamara Moodie, a seasoned educator and founder of the South Florida Autism Charter School, the organization emphasizes empathy, advocacy, and academic excellence in all its initiatives. Disclaimer: The above press release comes to you under an arrangement with GlobeNewswire. Business Upturn takes no editorial responsibility for the same.
