The Arizona Republic recently published the article “Tom Horne is making a monstrous mistake on critical race theory” by writer Greg Moore that criticizes Horne for saying that “race is irrelevant” and that “we are all brothers and sisters under the skin.” I agree with Tom Horne 100% because of my 32 years of experience teaching everything from German and Latin to reading, English, and English as a second language to mostly high school students of color in low-income neighborhoods.
What matters is the culture within a family. Children whose parents and siblings indulge in substance abuse, theft, or violence are less likely to succeed than those whose families encourage honesty and fair treatment of their fellow human beings. However, in this country, unlike most other countries, even young people from the most terrible of situations can and have overcome overwhelming obstacles and created good lives for themselves. I have seen it happen with my former students.
Recently, I read the book Redneck Blacks and White Liberals by Thomas Sowell, a Black conservative economist who is acclaimed not only for his books and essays dealing with economics, but also for his many writings regarding our multi-faceted culture. He makes the point that much of what we have done “to help the Blacks” has undermined their will to achieve. Children of color have the same needs as all children: to be educated and guided onto paths that fit with their particular talents and interests – not subjected to lectures about how they are victims or oppressors due to their race or ethnic group.
Sowell was born into a poor family in rural North Carolina in 1930. Both of his parents died early on. He was taken in by a great aunt and moved with her to a Harlem neighborhood in New York City in 1938. He was once labelled “a wayward minor” and moved into a shelter for homeless boys. As a school dropout, he took various jobs to support himself. Change came to his life after he served in the Marines. Eventually, he earned a college degree and advanced to the Chicago School of Economics where he became recognized for his brilliance and earned a Ph.D. He was one of many Americans who had something inside him that motivated him to advance out of dire poverty and into a productive career.
Moore brings up the fact that a Black man has been elected U.S. President only once. What he ignores is the fact that Barack Obama is one of only 14 presidents who has served two terms. In addition, two Black Justices serve presently on the U.S. Supreme Court. That is excellent representation for a race that makes up less than 14 percent of the population! Moreover, Asians make up nearly 19% of our population with not one of them having served as president or on the highest court.
Moore needs to brush up on his history. White slaveowners of the south were often nasty “rednecks” who as immigrants from unruly areas in England and Scotland had escaped criminal prosecution by moving to this country. On the other hand, the white northerners, especially the “radical Republicans,” lost their lives by the thousands after travelling south to save the Blacks from being lynched or shot to death as occurred frequently after the Civil War.
It is noteworthy that more than 50% of Tom Horne’s senior staff, including his campaign manager, share a Mexican heritage. When he first ran for state office, his campaign manager was a young Black man. He has chosen all of his staff specifically for their ability and history of excellence because he knows he must have an excellent team to win the race for State Superintendent and save our schools.
Greg Moore should meet and talk to some of the migrants flooding across our southern border to learn how fortunate he is to live in this country – and to have a career that provides him the freedom to write his points of view in a leading newspaper! He is living the American dream and doesn’t appreciate it.
By Johanna J. Haver, author of Vindicated: Closing the Hispanic Achievement Gap Through English Immersion and former member of the Maricopa County Community College District (2015 to 2019).