Posted on 01/16/2002 6:44:03 AM PST by Bubba_Leroy
Millwood Public Schools Superintendent Gloria Griffin says she is "dumbfounded." Since Monday, she has been swamped with angry e-mails accusing her administration of espousing black separatist doctrine to Millwood students. She said nothing could be further from the truth.
"This is very unfortunate," Griffin said.
At the center of the misunderstanding is a copy of "The Black Pledge of Allegiance," which appears on the Millwood Public Schools Web site immediately beneath the traditional American Pledge of Allegiance.
Griffin said the pledge, the origin of which is unknown to her, has appeared on the Web site since it was created last spring. She said she had forgotten all about it until the angry e-mails started arriving.
The pledge is not something the students recite in school, she said, although it apparently has been characterized that way in e-mails that have circulated over the Internet.
"Let me tell you how this came about," Griffin said. "Two or three years ago, one of the middle school teachers was doing a study on black pride or cultural pride.
"This particular pledge was among the items the students found through their research."
Black students make up about 99 percent of the Millwood school system's population, she said.
Some students found the pledge to be encouraging and inspirational and asked if it could be used in the Student Planner, a book where students keep track of their assignments, Griffin said.
It was approved and later was placed on the Web site, she said.
Griffin said the idea that some people might interpret the pledge as advocating separatism never occurred to her when she read it.
"When I read it, I focus on the words 'united in love, freedom and determination,'" she said. "If you look at history, there is a great need for African Americans to love. It is very important that we appreciate freedom. And it is very, very important to have self- determination, and I don't mean that in a sense of separatism."
Others have interpreted the pledge differently.
One of the nicer e-mails Griffin received said: "So much of the Millwood Web site is worthwhile. However, it is a shame that this pledge to black separatism is allowed in your school system."
Another says: "I am offended by the Millwood Black Pledge of Allegiance. It is one of the most racist pieces of propaganda I have read in many years. In a nation which encourages equality, I am surprised to see such stark racial division being taught by a public school."
Griffin said she is particularly upset by e-mails that have been blatantly racist, e-mails that falsely accuse the district of asking students to recite the pledge and e-mails that seem to question students' patriotism.
The pledge is not recited in Millwood schools, she said. The Pledge of Allegiance to the American flag is recited often.
"The elementary school opens each assembly with the Pledge of Allegiance to the American flag," Griffin wrote in a response to one e-mail. "Since August, this pledge is recited each morning. With a backlog of requests for American flags, the elementary school art teacher made attractive American flags for the classroom."
Middle school assemblies begin with a presentation of colors by the Civil Air Patrol and students reciting the Pledge of Allegiance to the American flag. At the high school, the Junior ROTC posts the colors and the Pledge of Allegiance to the American flag is recited, she said.
"Other than being the target of misinformation, I don't know what to make of this," she said. "Something has been taken out of context. As a result, it really borders on slander."
Griffin said she doesn't know the origin of the black pledge or the red, black and green flag it refers to -- although she does recall seeing the flag surface during the 1960s civil rights movement.
She also said she didn't know whether the pledge would remain on the school's Web site. She said she has asked the middle school principal to research its origin so appropriate action can be taken. At the least, a paragraph of explanation identifying the pledge as cultural study material needs to be added, she said.
Don Ross, a black state representative from Tulsa, said he is unfamiliar with the pledge. Like Griffin, he recalls the flag surfacing during the civil rights movement of the 1960s.
"I don't think it has anything to do with black separatism. If anything, it symbolizes unity," he said.
Ross referred to the red, black and green flag as the "freedom flag." He said it is frequently presented, along with the American flag, at gatherings of many traditional black groups that have nothing to do with black separatism.
The flag is frequently flown at Martin Luther King Day parades, he said.
However, as is the case with many symbols, the red, white and green flag apparently means different things to different groups.
The Kwanzaa Information Center Web site has an article on the origin of the red, black and green flag. It said the flag "has become the symbol of devotion for African people in America to establish an independent African nation on the North American Continent."
"Red is for the Blood. Black is the Black People. Green is for the Land," the Web site says.
We pledge allegiance of the orange, blue and white
Our flag, the symbol of our eternal struggle
and to the land we must obtain.
One nation of White people,
with one God for us all,
Totally united in the struggle for White Love,
White Freedom, and White determination.
They think THAT isn't racist?!?
(Apologies for associating the Dixie flag with White separatism)
How in heck can someone take this out of context?
We pledge allegiance of the red, black and green
Our flag, the symbol of our eternal struggle
and to the land we must obtain.
One nation of Black people,
with one God for us all,
Totally united in the struggle for Black Love,
Black Freedom, and Black determination.
In context: Black Racism!
Great point!
Student Responsibilities
In a century that has seen great progress in the definition of human rights as well as many threats to these rights, public institutions are called upon to clarify their own definitions.
Don't like the Bill of Rights? Define some new ones for your own school!
Amen!
Millwood has Grown:
In 1928 student enrollment was 40 - PTA membership 11. In 1967 student enrollment was 800 - PTA membership 650. By 1991 student enrollment was 1,100. PTA membership was 105, and growing again.
The Millwood Public School District has developed from a dependent rural school to an independent progressive suburban school system.
Odd how the PTA went into a tailspin as the enrollment went from 'rural' to 99% black 'suburban'. A coincidence, I'm sure. And the major red flag... the word progressive... is used as a main descriptor for their whole school system. Socialism before all else.
I pledge allegiance to the flag,
Even though the entire Judy Garland rainbow thing is so over,
And to the nightclub over which it stands,
One nation, under a mirror ball,
Indivisible (okay, but only with a crowbar),
With musicals and antiques and Malibu Barbies for all.
or the Hispanic Pledge of Allegiance:
I pledge allegiance to the flag,
Hangin' from the rear view of my Chebby,
And to all the vatos down at the Pep Boys,
One raza, leaf blowers buzzin',
With tamales and black bras for all.
and why not the Redneck Pledge of Allegiance?
I pledge allegiance to the flag,
Tattooed on on my ol' lady,
And to the dirt track over which it flies on 3-for-1 beer night,
One nation, wearin' our tube tops,
With TransAms and mullets for all.
the symbol of our eternal struggle and to the land we must obtain.
One nation of Black people,
with one God for us all,
Totally united in the struggle for Black Love,
Black Freedom, and Black determination.
This smacks of something written by Cornel West.
Finally, these guys agree with David Duke. /sarcasm Makes me wonder what is wrong with the "independent African nation" of Liberia. I guess you have to keep on subsidizing failure to be considered a good guy these days. Why does it need to be on the "North American Continent?" Wouldn't the African motherland be better, and more consistant with their rhetoric? Oh, that's right I forgot, these guys are parasites, and they need a host.
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