As Twitchy reported the other night, Ibram X. Kendi made it clear he won’t be appearing on Larry Elder’s “minstrel show” — and why should he when he can make five figures an hour doing Zoom sessions. We reported that the University of Michigan had paid Kendi $20,000 for a one-hour Zoom session and wondered just how many of these sessions he does a year. Quite a few, we’d wager.
Now we’re learning that Fairfax County Public Schools in Virginia in August paid Kendi $20,000 for a virtual session for staffers. Fox 5 DC reports:
The district says it was a timely topic selected by the staff – but it comes at a time when people are scrambling for funds to address how to navigate distance learning and in-person learning for students.
They say Kendi is a scholar in the subject matter – and that he spoke virtually to Fairfax County Public Schools officials and the school board at a leadership conference in August.
He spoke about how to cultivate an anti-racist school community.
The criticism surfaced on Twitter, when several users questions Kendi’s bill amid the pandemic.
Did domestic terrorists show up at the school board meeting after learning about this expenditure? Notice the district says the topic was selected by the staff.
Fairfax County spent 5 figures inviting Ibram Kendi for a virtual speech…at a time when all of its schools were closed for in-person learning. I suppose people will argue this didn't actually happen too? https://t.co/fHbRnIO3ab
— Zaid Jilani (@ZaidJilani) November 6, 2021
The problem with this debate is the level of not owning up to what's being done. If you're doing something you have to defend it, not pretend you're not doing it..
— Zaid Jilani (@ZaidJilani) November 6, 2021
Critical race theory isn’t real, but it should be in our public schools.
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I obtained the email earlier this year sent by the principal of TJ, the main school in northern Virginia where they changed admissions requirements. They are explicit that this was done in the name of diversity politics you can't say it's not happening https://t.co/YBwhnKf1O9
— Zaid Jilani (@ZaidJilani) November 6, 2021
The district superintendent and the principals explanation for agitating for changes was focused on racial equity language. It's right there, why deny this was the ideology driving this? Just defend it if you want, but don't deny it.
— Zaid Jilani (@ZaidJilani) November 6, 2021
There's a lot of "that's not *really* critical theory," which might as well be people looking at the Soviet Union and saying "that's not *really* communism." Call it whatever you want, you know it when you see it.
— Zaid Jilani (@ZaidJilani) November 6, 2021
They’re not the only one. There are plenty of other districts paying for zoom training that is borderline worthless, but for some reason districts and admins are forced to show this happening to demonstrate useless professional development.
— Why8Urp (@Why8Urp) November 6, 2021
Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools did the same. They paid him $25,000 for a 30 minute zoom speech. Looks like they got grifted harder than Fairfax ($5K)-not surprising given the group of complete fools on our BOE. Our district academic stats are beyond horrible.
— Marjorie Redding (@MarjorieReddin1) November 6, 2021
I think the argument is we should all understand the expenditure was just for show and no reasonable person would think anyone within FCPS actually took Kendi’s remarks to heart.
— Mactown Atty (@Desafinado2020) November 6, 2021
https://twitter.com/Desafinado2020/status/1456988987965550594
Can someone tell me why any school district would feel spending $20K for 1 HOUR is worth it, when you can just buy faculty copies of it for much, much cheaper, and/or turn on one his youtube videos? Is this how you should be spending $ for education? How irresponsible/wasteful.
— Nostrachavez (@Nostrachavez) November 6, 2021
That speaking fee represents educational resources stolen from children.
— John Barton (@bartjw) November 6, 2021
Grifters gonna grift.
— Richard H. Ebright (@R_H_Ebright) November 6, 2021
And this is why it matters: woke institutions inevitably begin diverting material resources from core mission to culture warring. It always progresses from happy talk to the budget.
— Adam Smith (@Adamsmith10015) November 6, 2021
https://twitter.com/Robert31415927/status/1457055731346194445
Went to visit a college today and he was the first name they touted as "big speakers" who come to campus to lecture.
Because I'm so mature now, I didn't spit out, "Couldn't I get him to speak in my bathroom for $20K too?"
— Lex Jurgen (@Lex_Jurgen) November 6, 2021
A solid investment, especially after @DrIbram himself proved his nonsense to be complete bullshit.
Not only did they throw money away, they did so to pay one of the most famous conmen in history. Now that's impressive.— John Galt (@J0hn_Galt4891) November 6, 2021
"Fake right-wing outrage pumped up by Fox News" – Obama
— nero (@n3ro) November 6, 2021
And Kendi wouldn’t go on Larry Elder’s minstrel show to talk about wealth inequity while he accepts $10 million checks from Twitter’s CEO.
Related:
Maryland schools recommend teachers buy Ibram X. Kendi’s ‘Antiracist Baby’ to fight ‘double pandemic’ of COVID and systemic racism https://t.co/7c2MkSqjyb
— Twitchy Team (@TwitchyTeam) November 5, 2021
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