Sure enough: the story started with a Facebook post by Marvelyne Lamy, a teacher at the charter school:

On Thursday, May 16, 2019, some of the 7th grade students as well as the 7th grade teachers went on a field trip to the Museum of Fine Arts to look at some exhibits to enhance what they’ve learned in their history class. I should add my students are ALL black and brown. At the very beginning of the tour, one of the staff gave an overview on what to expect and told the kids no food, no drink, and no watermelon (we didn’t know they said this until the end).

So after the visit had turned into a racial incident, a student apparently volunteered the reference to watermelons. But wait! The MFA staffer who welcomed the kids was asked what happened:

he MFA’s report states that the staff member who greeted the students recalled saying that "no food, no drink and no water bottles” were allowed in the galleries.

Continuing with Ms. Lamy’s account:

There were other groups of students that were there, but those students were white. We were instructed not to touch any of the artifacts in the museum, yet the white students there touched the displays several times while security looked on without saying anything. The minute one of our students followed suit, the security guards would yell at them that they should not touch exhibits.

I don’t actually believe this. Museum guards don’t have much to do. The main thing they watch out for is people touching paintings or statues. If you do that, or look like you are about to, they will warn you not to touch anything. The idea that whites are allowed to touch artifacts in museums is ridiculous.

And the students go on to explain how they were told by their parents and teachers that they had no chance of ever being treated right because of the color of their skin. Doesn't that suggest that, no matter how they were treated, they would find some slight to be offended by?There is ALWAYS something to be mad about if you look hard enough.

And the kids were doing things like a "model walk" as they called it. In other words, they were acting up.

What we see in modern America are two standards of behavior, one for white kids and one for minorities. Unlike the way many minorities try to characterize it, the standard is one of leniency for minorities. They can use foul language. They can push to the front of the line. They can be loud and throw things. If they are chastised the inevitable complaint of racism come forth. And they believe they can't get a break. Well, they can't, but whose fault is that? The people who are supposed to be teaching them fail in that task, and then blame white America instead of their own bad behavior.

If you don't play by the rules you won't get ahead. If you do, you are getting ahead for the wrong reason. In the end nobody is doing you a favor teaching you to flip society the bird.

Question; if the museum said "no watermelon" why didn't they say "no fried chicken" or "no chitterlings"? These kids are most likely lying. Kids pick up on how to game the system early - black, white, brown, and yellow, it doesn't matter. They realize they can act out and get away with it by using a few choice phrases. What is sad is that the adults who should be wise to this are encouraging them to lie.

We will never solve the race problem until we start holding everyone to the same standards.

Posted by: Timothy Birdnow at 10:51 AM | Comments (3) | Add Comment
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