BE SUPERMAN... SUPPORT NORTH HIGH

BY RYAN “BUGS” WILLIAMS-VIRDEN

Yesterday there was a lot of talk regarding North High School and [Minneapolis school superintendent] Bernadia Johnson’s plan to recommend its closure to the School Board. It makes me happy that folks are talking about such an important issue. However, the discourse itself has left me very disturbed (see the comment section of the original Star Tribune story from Wednesday) hence this writing.  Let me be clear who I am writing this for, it is not those that are passionate about this issue in either direction, but rather those that are somewhere in the middle. The ones that pride themselves on seeing “both sides” of the issue, the ones that want to see education be the force for good that it should and think maybe shutting down North is a necessary reform measure. You are the people I hope read this and consider what I have to say; mainly--the closing of North is a Civil and Human Rights issue rooted in a history of systemic racism. Rather than shut the doors and wipe our hands we should see this as an opportunity to move towards equality.

TC Daily Planet: Decision to Close North High Delayed (photo credit)

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