KY Governor Blasted For Expressing Surprise Over Chess Club At Mostly Black School
- 6 years ago
Kentucky Governor Matt Bevin is facing backlash for comments he made in a video about a chess club at a predominantly black school.
Kentucky Governor Matt Bevin is facing backlash for comments he made in a video about a chess club at a predominantly black school.
In the video, which Bevin posted to Twitter, he stands in front of the Nativity Academy and says: "I'm going to go in and meet the members of the West Louisville Chess Club. Not something you necessarily would have thought of when you think of this section of town."
The response to his video has been swift and strong.
"You need to get out more often," wrote one tweeter. "Black kids also play classical music, write poetry and fiction, and are as smart as white Kids."
And local Councilman David James has said: "It was just an obvious move by the governor to take photos with the African-American community. To perpetuate a stereotype of the African-American community like that is unbelievable."
However, Bevin's spokesperson has defended the video.
"It is disappointing that some are trying to shift the focus away from the incredible accomplishments of these talented kids," Elizabeth Kuhn said in a statement.
Kentucky Governor Matt Bevin is facing backlash for comments he made in a video about a chess club at a predominantly black school.
In the video, which Bevin posted to Twitter, he stands in front of the Nativity Academy and says: "I'm going to go in and meet the members of the West Louisville Chess Club. Not something you necessarily would have thought of when you think of this section of town."
The response to his video has been swift and strong.
"You need to get out more often," wrote one tweeter. "Black kids also play classical music, write poetry and fiction, and are as smart as white Kids."
And local Councilman David James has said: "It was just an obvious move by the governor to take photos with the African-American community. To perpetuate a stereotype of the African-American community like that is unbelievable."
However, Bevin's spokesperson has defended the video.
"It is disappointing that some are trying to shift the focus away from the incredible accomplishments of these talented kids," Elizabeth Kuhn said in a statement.