Mississippi News
Anti-CRT bill will simply provide election year cover to Republicans
What will the anti-CRT bill do? Not much, other than provide election year cover to Republicans.
Note: This analysis first published in Mississippi Today's weekly legislative newsletter. Subscribe to our free newsletter for exclusive early access to weekly analyses.
The two legislative Republicans who defended the anti-critical race theory bill on the Senate and House floors said it all: Out-of-state conservative media inspired the Mississippi bill, it would do little to change or limit any public school teaching, and its passing was largely a symbolic gesture to Republican voters ahead of the 2023 election year.
If you missed the eight total hours of floor debate of the bill, that's the short of it, according to the bill's author Sen. Mike McLendon and his House counterpart Rep. Joey Hood. Both Republicans appeared grossly unprepared to answer basic questions about what, exactly, the three-page bill would do.
Every Black lawmaker in both the Senate and House voted against the bill, which now sits on Gov. Tate Reeves' desk for signature or veto. Black senators were so upset about the bill that they walked out in protest during the final vote — an inevitably successful one, given the Republicans' supermajority. In Mississippi's history, a legislative walkout like that had never been done before.
McLendon, the bill's official “author,” struggled to answer basic questions about the bill from fellow senators on Jan. 21.
He said he heard from many of his constituents who had learned of critical race theory “on the national news” and wanted to ensure it would not be taught in Mississippi. That, he said, is the reason he “sponsored” the bill, the text of which was provided to him by the Mississippi Center for Public Policy, which often gets draft language from out-of-state interest groups.
McLendon said all his bill does is “prohibit a child or a student from being told they are inferior or superior to another.”
Likewise, Hood struggled to answer basic questions from his House colleagues during floor debate on March 3. Under constant questioning, he conceded he had not studied the origins of critical race theory.
“A lot of people have a lot of different definitions of what critical race is,” Hood said.
He repeatedly said all the bill would do is say no university, community college or public school “shall direct of compel students to affirm that any sex, race, ethnicity, religion or national origin is inherently superior or that individuals should be adversely treated based on such characteristics.”
“History in Mississippi can be taught under this legislation,” Hood repeatedly said from the well of the chamber when he couldn't provide answers to specific questions about the bill.
When pressed by colleagues about whether the bill's passage was more of a symbolic gesture to Republican voters than anything, neither McLendon nor Hood offered any counter to the question.
“This bill is only before us so that some of you can go back home and have something to campaign on,” Rep. Willie Bailey, D-Greenville, said during the House debate. Hood did not offer any rebuttal.
Speaker of the House Philip Gunn appeared to concede that point himself shortly after the final House vote. He led the House in prayer from the speaker's dais, saying: “Lord, we face difficult things in this body. We all represent a constituency. We all have voters for whom issues are important. Sometimes those issues are difficult. Today is one of those days, Lord. We pray for healing, we pray that you would not allow this to create division, not only within this body but within this state.”
READ MORE: Every Black Mississippi senator walked out as white colleagues voted to ban critical race theory
Critical race theory is not taught in any K-12 public school in Mississippi. The only public entity teaching a CRT course is University of Mississippi Law School, Mississippi Today found. And even a Republican in that class says that state lawmakers completely misrepresented the actual teachings of the course.
The term “critical race theory” is not mentioned once in the three-page bill, meaning it's very unlikely that the term will make it into the state code books.
While Republicans limped through the House and Senate floor debates without real answers, some opponents said they feared that even if the language of the bill is innocuous, it will have a chilling effect on the teaching of history — particularly Mississippi's dark, racist history — and lead to censorship in the state's classrooms.
“The language means something to me,” Rep. Zakiya Summers said during House floor debate. “… You cannot pass a bill like this and continue the rhetoric that we can all work together.”
READ MORE: Lawmakers spent hours on a bill to ban critical race theory. But does it?
This article first appeared on Mississippi Today and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.
Mississippi News
Summer-like trends
SUMMARY: Warm temperatures and chances of scattered showers and thunderstorms persist throughout the week in Columbus, Mississippi. Monday starts with showers and thunderstorms in the morning, clearing out by late morning. More showers are possible throughout the day and evening with temperatures in the mid-80s. Tuesday brings similar conditions with scattered showers and temperatures in the upper 80s. Wednesday and Thursday have the greatest chance for rain, with heavier showers and storms expected. Severe weather threats are possible during this time. Overnight temperatures remain in the upper 60s with high humidity. Stay updated for further weather developments.
The post Summer-like trends appeared first on www.wcbi.com
Mississippi News
Local sheriff informs drivers to celebrate Cinco de Mayo responsibly
SUMMARY: Cinco de Mayo is a day to celebrate Mexican heritage and culture, but law enforcement reminds people to drink responsibly to avoid alcohol poisoning. The day commemorates the Mexican army's victory over France in 1862, but in the US, it is often celebrated with Mexican food and drinks. Clay County Sheriff Eddie Scott emphasizes the importance of knowing one's limitations when drinking, especially during events like Cinco de Mayo. He urges people to have a designated driver, watch out for friends, or call a cab to prevent accidents and DUIs. Alcohol poisoning is a real danger, and Scott's officers are actively monitoring the roads for excessive drinking.
The post Local sheriff informs drivers to celebrate Cinco de Mayo responsibly appeared first on www.wcbi.com
Mississippi News
Starkville-MSU Symphony Association provides musical outlet
SUMMARY: The Starkville-MSU Symphony and community chorus have been a part of the community for over 50 years, hosting multiple free concerts in various genres. The orchestra and chorus were established out of a need for a musical outlet, providing musicians with a platform to continue playing and performing music. The association aims to give individuals a chance to continue their musical experiences beyond high school, fostering a sense of community and enjoyment of music. The recent “On Broadway!” event marked the end of the season, with the next season scheduled to start in early fall.
The post Starkville-MSU Symphony Association provides musical outlet appeared first on www.wcbi.com
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