OKLAHOMA CITY â Claiming its passage would avoid feelings of âshameâ among schoolchildren, Gov. Kevin Stitt signed House Bill 1775 into law on May 7, which prohibits schools from teaching that one ethnicity or gender is superior to others, or that people by virtue of race or gender are inherently bigoted.
Supporters say the bill is intended to prevent distress among students when learning about history and race, while detractors say it will force teachers to mask much of the racial strife interwoven with the countryâs past.
âWe can, and should, teach this history without labeling a young child as an âoppressorâ or requiring he or she feel guilt or shame based on their race or sex,â Stitt said. âI refuse to tolerate otherwise.â
Oklahoman
Political pressure is mounting on both sides of a controversial bill that would ban public schools and universities from teaching critical race theory.
Some educators are urging Gov. Kevin Stitt to veto the legislation, which passed both chambers of the Oklahoma Legislature with overwhelming Republican support.
House Bill 1775 would prohibit instructors from teaching that “one race or sex is inherently superior to another,” and that “an individual, by virtue of his or her race or sex, is inherently racist, sexist or oppressive.”
It would explicitly forbid critical race theory, which examines the way race and racism influence American politics, legal systems and society.
1921 Tulsa Race Massacre Centennial Commission
The 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre Centennial Commission on Sunday issued an open letter to Gov. Kevin Stitt, asking him to veto a bill passed by both chambers of the legislature that would restrict the teaching of concepts like systemic racism. After much discussion with our core leadership, including Sen. Kevin Matthews, we release these open letters to oppose HB 1775 passled last week by both Oklahoma chambers of Congress, wrote commission project director Phil Armstrong in an internal email to commissioners and marketing team members. We are NOT a political organization, BUT any legislation that directly harms or thwarts the programming and mission of Greenwood Rising History Center we must oppose. This bill, if not vetoed by Governor Stitt, could make it illegal for Oklahoma teachers to teach this history, or bring students on field trips through the center, Armstrong wrote.
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The 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre Centennial Commission is calling on Governor Kevin Stitt to veto a bill that would outlaw teaching topics like historic and systemic racism in a way that could cause discomfort. The commission’s project director Phil Armstrong spoke with Public Radio Tulsa s Chris Polansky about why they’re speaking out and how it may affect their currently under construction Greenwood Rising History Center. -
PUBLIC RADIO TULSA: So, in your open letter to the governor you say you are not a political group. So how is it that you came to determine that you wanted to speak out like this?