Black Lives Matter Puts Boots On The Ground In South Carolina Fight Against Banning CRT

CHARLESTON, S.C. – Critical Race Theory (CRT) began as a way to look at a legal case through the idea that racism is a social construct and part of our legal system, law professors say. According to the American Bar Association, the concept originated in law schools in the 1970s and 1980s. But in the past two years, the topic has become a heated debate across the country including in South Carolina.
H. 4799 is a bill co-authored by Rep. Robert May (R-Lexington) and Rep. Russell Fry (R-Horry), that would ban all schools in S.C., including colleges, from teaching what the bill broadly defines as critical race theory, along with other restrictions on what schools can teach, such as ideas about "the multiplicity or fluidity of gender identities." It would also install a whistleblower system on each school's website that would allow parents to contact school administrations or the state Department of Education for "complaints regarding instructional materials and curricula ."

The current form of the bill states that if an entity receiving money from the General Assembly violates the CRT ban, it would have to return all funds and would then be prohibited from receiving additional state funding for that and the next ten fiscal years. Also, if a public school violates this ban, all students in that school district would be allowed to attend any other school within the state, and that school district would be forced to transfer funding to support that student to the new school.

The ACLU, the NAACP Legal Defense Fund and the Lowcountry Black Parents Association are part of a group forged by the Charleston-based E3 Foundation to educate the public about H.4799 and all other bills pertaining to the ban of CRT. Opponents have held online discussions, recruited supporters, and prepped parents and other members of the community to testify before lawmakers, according to Marcus McDonald, president of Black Lives Matter-Charleston and member of E3. “Black Lives Matter- Charleston is not leading this effort,” said McDonald, but we are certainly supporting the effort and we are heavily involved with this initiative.”

Currently there are five anti-critical race theory bills on the table in South Carolina, aimed at banning certain discussions in K-12 public schools and colleges in the state. “The purpose of these bills is to sanitize, basically whitewash our past to achieve a certain illusion and comfort for white people,” said McDonald. “Black Lives Matter (Charleston) cannot sit by and watch this happen. We have joined forces with other grassroots organizations to fight these bills,” said McDonald.
Teachers whose lessons cover American history have expressed perhaps the most concern about the proposed law, which they say seeks to undercut teaching about racial discrimination. Despite the threats outlined in the bills, many educators say they must teach accurate history and take a stand against “atrocities”. Failing to teach the lasting effects of slavery, Jim Crow and the innumerable crimes against minorities inflicted throughout American history would be deviations from reality. Whether Republicans, parents or students like it or not, it is essential for our schools to teach the truth, especially in South Carolina where after their horrific "Middle Passage," over 40% of African slaves reaching the British colonies before the American Revolution passed through South Carolina. Almost all of these slaves entered the Charleston port, being briefly quarantined on Sullivan's Island, before being sold in Charleston's slave markets. The promotion of falsified or whitewashed American history for the perpetuation of white comfort is contrary to the very theory of a comprehensive education. Critical Race Theory education should be mandatory for Americans regardless of color and creed because of the collateral damage to the mental well-being of our nation. The ever-widening political divides of our nation is rooted in the efforts to protect lies and silence truth. “We will be in Columbia speaking out against these divisive bills,” said McDonald. “We refuse to stand idly by and allow them to pass.”