Betsy DeVos Expresses Regret For Not Decrying Racism More In HBCU Comments
- 7 years ago
U.S. Secretary of Education, Betsy DeVos, has said she should have spoken out more forcefully about racism when she made controversial comments about Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) in February.
U.S. Secretary of Education, Betsy DeVos, has said she should have spoken out more forcefully about racism when she made controversial comments about historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) in February.
In an interview with the Associated Press Wednesday, she said, “When I talked about it being a pioneer in choice it was because I acknowledge that racism was rampant and there were no choices. These HBCUs provided choices for black students that they didn’t have.”
She added, “My intention was to say they were pioneering on behalf of students that didn’t have another choice. This was their only choice. At the same time I should have decried much more forcefully the ravages of racism in this country.”
DeVos was heavily criticized for issuing a statement saying, “HBCU’s are real pioneers when it comes to school choice.”
She also called HBCUs “living proof that when more options are provided to students, they are afforded greater access and great quality.”
As the Washington Post explained at the time, “the statement did not delve into the historical context behind the creation of HBCUs: that they were a response to racist Jim Crow laws that enforced segregation in the South, barring black students from attending traditionally white institutions.”
Meanwhile, critics on Twitter compared her remarks to other injustices the black community has faced, with one person saying it’s as if segregated water fountains “were about beverage options.”
While the current administration has a somewhat uneven track record on HBCUs thus far, in May, the White House issued a statement where President Trump expressed his “unwavering support for HBCUs and their critical educational missions.”
U.S. Secretary of Education, Betsy DeVos, has said she should have spoken out more forcefully about racism when she made controversial comments about historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) in February.
In an interview with the Associated Press Wednesday, she said, “When I talked about it being a pioneer in choice it was because I acknowledge that racism was rampant and there were no choices. These HBCUs provided choices for black students that they didn’t have.”
She added, “My intention was to say they were pioneering on behalf of students that didn’t have another choice. This was their only choice. At the same time I should have decried much more forcefully the ravages of racism in this country.”
DeVos was heavily criticized for issuing a statement saying, “HBCU’s are real pioneers when it comes to school choice.”
She also called HBCUs “living proof that when more options are provided to students, they are afforded greater access and great quality.”
As the Washington Post explained at the time, “the statement did not delve into the historical context behind the creation of HBCUs: that they were a response to racist Jim Crow laws that enforced segregation in the South, barring black students from attending traditionally white institutions.”
Meanwhile, critics on Twitter compared her remarks to other injustices the black community has faced, with one person saying it’s as if segregated water fountains “were about beverage options.”
While the current administration has a somewhat uneven track record on HBCUs thus far, in May, the White House issued a statement where President Trump expressed his “unwavering support for HBCUs and their critical educational missions.”