Why do they care what we personally prefer, or what we look like?”Īs conservative politicians and activists push for limits on discussions of race, gender and sexuality, some students say the measures targeting aspects of their identity have made them less welcome in American schools - the one place all kids are supposed to feel safe. “When I heard they were removing African American history, banning LGBTQ, I almost started crying,” said Harmony, 16. The law was broad, but to her, the potential impact was crushing. So when Tennessee began passing legislation that could limit the discussion and teaching of Black history, gender identity and race in the classroom, to Harmony, it felt like a gut punch - as if the adults were signaling this kind of ignorant behavior was acceptable. As she saw the students receive light punishments, she grew increasingly frustrated. In sixth grade, a boy dropped trash on the floor and told her to pick it up, “because you’re a slave.” She was stunned - no one had ever said anything like that to her before.Īs protests for racial justice broke out in 2020, white students at her Tennessee high school kneeled in the hallways and chanted, “Black lives matter!” in mocking tones. On a playground, a girl picked up a leaf and said she wanted to “clean the dirt” from Harmony’s skin. (AP) - The first encounter with racism that Harmony Kennedy can remember came in elementary school.
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