Late Thursday night, April 25, New York City School Chancellor, Richard A. Carranza, tweeted a video with the following text, WATCH: Wealthy white Manhattan parents angrily rant against plan to bring more black kids to their schools.
This was his reaction to a meeting between school officials and parents regarding a proposal that will diversify classrooms and bus students into the local school district last Tuesday.
After much pressure, Carranza gave what many felt was a forced apology, four days after the tweet, and after much negative press on the subject.
What a first impression to the public, since few have heard from or about this man since taking over the position less than a month ago.
This tweet opens debate to many questions.
Is this Mexican-American a racist? Anti-Semitic? Is using the term “white, rich” code for Jew??
How will his opinions influence staffing, classes and curriculum?
Could you imagine if President Donald J. Trump, Secretary of State Betsy DeVos, or any other Republican or Conservative wrote something even close to that on social media?
Why is this area, the Upper West Side, Manhattan, an area populated by many Jews who use both public and private schools, targeted? Many Jews in the area vote for Democrats during local, state and national elections.
What kind of response will those in charge of education deliver? New York City Mayor, Bill DeBlasio defended his new school leader, who took over after the retirement of Carmen Farina on April 2nd.
As of this writing, New York's leadership including Governor Cuomo and Senators Chuck Schumer and Kristen Gillibrand have not made any formal comments. And then there is Randi Weingarten.
Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers praised the choice of Richard Carranza in March during an interview, citing examples of working with him during his tenure in Houston during the hurricane crisis. She has remained silent on the tweet.
Should we really be surprised?
About a decade ago, I obtained emails from the New York Department of Education business address sent to teachers, administrators, instructional specialists and Department of Education executive staff members that was sent to recipients on staff and clearly stated that "white women" are inferior and that "black men " use them because are "docile and easy to control."
The email, titled, "White Women's Opinion of Black Women," is actually a multi page email sent to many of the leaders within the Queens, New York area where a majority of educators and principals are Black. The email went on with examples of why white women are "easy, can be controlled and can be walked over."
When I became aware of this email in 2006, I immediately contacted Randi Weingarten, then president of the United Federation of Teachers, the union representing educators in The New York Department of Education, her response to me was, "Read it. Who gave it to you--I have seen this before--lots of times."
On another occasion, around the same time, a teacher in the Bronx contacted me about a workshop he attended called, "Gang Awareness." At one point, the presentation turned into something far different. Jews were targeted in remarks like, "Jews of Williamsburg have "all their money because they don't wear the bling and made reference to Jews behind a conspiracy not to give jobs to minority children.
Again, Weingarten did nothing.
Carranza Background
Richard Carranza was not to first choice to replace Carmen Farina. Alberto Carvalgo, head of the Miami, Florida, school district was Mayor DeBlasio's first choice, but backed out.
People think that college campuses are filled with hate, anti-Zionism and anti-Semitism. What they don't realize is that by the time students enter university classes and campus life, they are already indoctrinated by the prejudices and biases shared by school leaders like Carranza.
Carranza left the Houston district under the threat of state takeover. Houston’s school district faced a $115 million budget shortfall and could be taken over by the state due to the some of its schools’ poor academic performance, according to the Houston Chronicle. San Francisco, California, Carranza’s previous district, is also facing criticism because of longstanding performance gaps between its black and Latino students and its white and Asian students.
How Far Are The White Remarks From Feelings About Jews?
If this man has no problem announcing to the world his feelings about white parents, many of whom are Jews, what will come next? Obviously, most of the Jews living in this area are white. I noticed several Jewish parents were interviewed who attended the meeting that brought Carranza's reactions and feelings to life.
People think that college campuses are filled with hate, anti-Zionism and anti-Semitism. What they don't realize is that by the time students enter university classes and campus life, they are already indoctrinated by the prejudices and biases shared by school leaders like Carranza. His leadership in the largest school system in the United States MUST be monitored carefully, from how he hires and fires Jews, lesson oversight and how he communicates with people like Linda Sarsour, Bertha Lewis of ACORN and The Black Institute and Actress and Gubernatorial Candidate Cynthia Nixon.
And, a note to all those who keep supporting and voting for elected officials who keep insulting us and stabbing you in the back, STOP electing officials who hire people like Richard Carranza.