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In the course of arguing against teaching about systemic racism in schools, some GOP lawmakers suggest the original constitutional sin was somehow anti-slavery.
NASHVILLE — A Tennessee Republican falsely declared Tuesday that an 18th century policy designating a slave as three-fifths of a person was adopted for “the purpose of ending slavery,” commenting amid a debate over whether educators should be restricted while teaching about systematic racism in America. During lengthy debate on
Tennessee Republican badly misstates the three-fifths compromise
Debating the importance of race and history is worthwhile. Defending the Constitution s three-fifths compromise is not.
Tennessee State Capitol in Nashville, Tennessee.Raymond Boyd / Getty Images
May 5, 2021, 1:20 PM UTC
BySteve Benen
As a rule, the national news tends not to focus too much attention on foolish comments from state legislators. With more than 7,000 Americans serving in state legislatures nationwide, there are simply too many officials saying too many things to even try to keep up.
But once in a while, an exception comes along.
In Tennessee yesterday, state lawmakers debated a critical race theory measure intended to limit what school teachers can say about the influence of institutional racism and privilege. During the proceedings, state Rep. Justin Lafferty (R) thought it d be a good idea to share some of his thoughts about the Constitution s three-fifths compromise.
EXPLAINER: No evidence 3/5 compromise aimed to end slavery
Mark Sherman And Kimberlee Kruesi
Associated Press
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Rep. Justin Lafferty, R-Knoxville, watches the tally board during a vote in the House of Representatives Tuesday, May 4, 2021, in Nashville, Tenn. Lafferty falsely declared that an 18th century policy designating a slave as three-fifths of a person was adopted for the purpose of ending slavery, commenting amid a debate over whether educators should be restricted while teaching about systematic racism in America. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey) (Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved)
WASHINGTON – It s a claim that has surfaced and been debunked before, but Republican lawmakers in recent days have given it new voice: the notion that the clause in the Constitution counting slaves as three-fifths of a person actually was a step toward ending slavery.