Quote:
Originally Posted by Madison
Exposing the effects of institutional racism can be very difficult. Even in the absence of definitive proof that those involved in this case were motivated by racism, the possibility itself offers an opportunity for us to discuss problems that need to be solved (and, I'd argue, are not mere vestiges of our checkered past).
In this case, I don't think you need proof of some overt action taken by the teacher, administration, or police; rather, the lack of similar incidents of this kind of perceived overreaction -- notably involving students who are not minorities -- seems to point toward Ahmed's race and religion playing some part in how he was treated.
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I am all for discussing these problems with the desire for finding constructive solutions. I am happy that most of the mainstream national reaction was to defend Ahmed. If i was local to the school district, I would asking my elected officials for an explanation and the problem to be addressed.
Do we know the school's history of suspensions & referring youth to police? Without that you cannot claim proportional inequality is at play here. Nationally I can site examples of zero tolerance run amock without depending on institutional racism as a cause.