Activism
Dr. Kamau Bobb of Georgia Tech’s STEM Faculty Opposes SCOTUS’ Affirmative Action Ruling
Dr. Bobb, Senior Director of the Constellations Center for Equity in Computing at Georgia Tech, says the Supreme Court failed to prioritize the true reason for affirmative action: racial justice.
ATLANTA, GA /24-7PressRelease/ — In his role as founding Senior Director of the Constellations Center for Equity in Computing at Georgia Tech and Director of STEM Education Strategy at Google, Dr. Kamau Bobb has become a leading advocate for greater equity in U.S. education. He is speaking out against the recent SCOTUS ruling rejecting race-conscious admissions in higher education, claiming the court’s arguments miss the true reason for affirmative action: justice for the country’s long history of racial discrimination and ongoing segregation in education.
“Diversity is important, but the most compelling reason for race-conscious admissions is justice.”
The Supreme Court based many of its recent affirmative action case arguments on the 1978 Regents of the University of California v. Bakke ruling. But Dr. Bobb argued that the Bakke case’s emphasis on diversity as the end goal of affirmative action misses the mark. “The conservative side is willing, if not seeking, to disavow the reality of, and the national responsibility for, the lingering chains of two and half centuries of slavery and another hundred years of Jim Crow. They want a magic meritocratic America that has only ever been an idea, not a real place. While diversity is the ideological basis of affirmative action dating back to the 1978 Bakke case, and is dominating the public discussion now, it is a secondary goal. Justice is first.”
Dr. Bobb said that in spite of the 1954 Supreme Court Brown v. Board of Education case making it illegal to separate kids in public schools on the basis of race, racial segregation continues in education, demanding greater justice. “In Atlanta, there are 10 traditional public high schools in the Atlanta Public School System. In seven of those schools there isn’t a single white student. As of October 2022, all of the nearly 2,000 white students attend only three of the schools, without exception. The other seven serve students of color only. Almost 70 years after Brown, these schools remain “for colored students only”. If we hold to the tenets of the Brown decision, these segregated schools are inherently unequal. Black students who succeed at the highest levels often do so despite public education, not because of it. Race is a factor in their education every step of the way.”
Dr. Bobb said that these inequities are evident at the highest levels of education. “The College of Computing at Georgia Tech, where I am on the faculty, is one of the premier public institutions in the country. Over the last seven years, of all the students earning degrees in computer science at all levels – B.S., M.S., and Ph.D. – only 3 percent have been Black. That, in a city and state that are 50% and 33% Black respectively.”
Dr. Bobb said that while diversity is a noble goal, it is not the primary reason affirmative action is worth pursuing. “Excellent educational institutions like Georgia Tech and those named in the recent Supreme Court case, Harvard and UNC, will continue to do well regardless of their diversity. Diversity is important, but the most compelling reason for race-conscious admissions is justice. The country has not come to terms with its past. The magic meritocracy is untethered from reality and historical truth. Confrontation with the fullness of the American past is the only path to justice. Diversity is merely a derivative of that.”
Dr. Bobb said that in spite of the Supreme Court’s recent blow to the movement for greater racial justice in U.S. education, he will continue his life’s work of advocating for greater equity in education.
Dr. Bobb holds a Ph.D. in Science and Technology Policy from Georgia Tech and an M.S. and B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of California, Berkeley. Dr. Bobb served as a Program Officer at the National Science Foundation, overseeing $30 million of annual investments earmarked to improve computing and STEM education. In that role, he helped structure the national research agenda for effectively delivering equitable and quality computational education to all students.
Working with members of the Office and Science and Technology Policy in the Obama Administration, Dr. Bobb helped shape the national strategy for STEM education for both post-secondary and secondary schools. He was selected as a member of President Obama’s My Brother’s Keeper STEM + Entrepreneurship Taskforce, which helped engage young men and boys of color in STEM opportunities.
To learn more about Dr. Bobb or his work to achieve greater justice and equity in the U.S. education system, visit www.kamaubobb.com.
Kamau Bobb is the Director of STEM Education Strategy at Google and the founding Senior Director of the Constellations Center for Equity in Computing at Georgia Tech.
Source: Georgia Tech
Activism
MAY JUNG LAW AND BEN CRUMP FILE CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT AGAINST ORANGE UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT FOR RACIAL DISCRIMINATION AND CONSTITUTIONAL VIOLATIONS
Lawsuit alleges violations against Black and Brown students
ORANGE, Calif. /PRNewswire/ — Leading civil rights law firm May Jung Law, along with nationally renowned civil rights and personal injury attorney Ben Crump, has filed a putative class action lawsuit against the Orange Unified School District (“OUSD”). This action outlines the numerous alleged constitutional and statutory violations that the OUSD and its employees have perpetrated against minors.
The lawsuit alleges that OUSD disciplines Black and Brown children at 2-3 times the rate of white students. The probability of this deviation occurring by chance is no less than 1-in-70 million.
The lawsuit also addresses OUSD’s alleged significant violations of fundamental due process, whereby a 14-year-old-boy’s normal interpersonal interactions with his 14-year-old female peers were disciplined as a sexual harassment. Not only was he disciplined for this behavior, he was further punished under the OUSD’s secretive and unpublicized disciplinary processes by being expelled from his high school.
“On a daily basis, we entrust our children’s physical and emotional well-being and safety to our student educators. It is an egregious abuse of power for the OUSD to take that trust and deny our children the most basic and fundamental protections at school because they are children of color and minors who may not know their rights,” said Jessica Meeder, senior counsel at May Jung Law.
The OUSD’s actions and omissions addressed in this lawsuit demonstrate a warped and perverted application of the legitimate efforts and progress that the #MeToo movement has made.
“In the OUSD’s overzealous hunt to impose a ‘Harvey Weinstein narrative’ on a 14-year-old minor, it disregarded the rights of the children it is privileged to protect and its obligations to nurture and develop them,” said Je Yon Jung, partner at May Jung Law.
The attorneys are seeking other Black and Latinx/Hispanic children in the OUSD who may want to be a part of the class action and who were subjected to discipline (i.e., suspension, expulsion, and/or “involuntary placement”), including those subjected to the “Student Success Panel” or “SSP” process.
If you think you or your child may qualify, please call 1-833-MAY-JUNG (629-5864) or visit www.mayjung.com.
ABOUT MAY JUNG LAW
May Jung is dedicated to using the law to make positive changes in the lives of their clients and to address the systemic barriers that stifle our communities’ progress and growth. May Jung lawyers have dedicated their lives to social justice, advocating in the streets and our communities in federal and state courts throughout the United States. For more information, visit www.mayjung.com.
ABOUT BEN CRUMP LAW
Through his work, nationally renowned civil rights and personal injury attorney Ben Crump has spearheaded a legal movement to better protect the rights of marginalized citizens. He has led landscape-changing civil rights cases and represented clients in a wide range of areas including civil rights, personal injury, labor and employment, class actions, and more. Ben Crump Law is dedicated to holding the powerful accountable. For more information, visit www.bencrump.com.
SOURCE May Jung Law Firm
Activism
National Gun Violence Awareness Day: Demanding Change and Ending Gun Violence
Join the community in demanding change and ending gun violence on National Gun Violence Awareness Day. Wear orange and take action for a safer future.
National Gun Violence Awareness Day is an annual event that falls on the first Friday in June. This day was created to raise awareness about the devastating impact of gun violence and to honor the lives lost to senseless acts of gun violence. It is a day to come together as a community to demand change and work towards ending gun violence.
The color orange is the official color of National Gun Violence Awareness Day. This color was chosen because it is the color hunters wear in the woods to protect themselves and others from accidental shootings. Wearing orange on this day shows solidarity with the victims and survivors of gun violence and sends a powerful message to lawmakers that we demand action.
Gun violence is a serious problem in the United States. Every year, thousands of people are killed or injured by guns. This includes mass shootings, domestic violence, suicide, and accidental shootings. The statistics are staggering, and yet, little has been done to address the issue.
National Gun Violence Awareness Day is a call to action. It is a day to demand change and work towards ending gun violence. There are many things that can be done to reduce gun violence, including stricter gun laws, better background checks, and increased mental health resources.
One of the most effective ways to reduce gun violence is to pass common-sense gun laws. This includes universal background checks, banning assault weapons, and closing loopholes that allow gun sales without background checks. These laws have been proven to be effective in reducing gun violence in other countries, and it is time for the United States to follow suit.
Another important step is to increase funding for mental health resources. Many mass shootings are committed by individuals with mental health issues, and providing access to mental health care can help prevent these tragedies from occurring.
National Gun Violence Awareness Day is also a time to remember those who have been lost to gun violence. It is a time to honor their memory and to work towards a future where gun violence is a thing of the past.
National Gun Violence Awareness Day is an important day to come together as a community to demand change and work towards ending gun violence. By wearing orange, advocating for common-sense gun laws, and increasing access to mental health resources, we can make a difference and create a safer future for all.
Visit this link: https://wearorange.org/
Activism
NFL Legend and Civil Rights Advocate Jim Brown Dies at 87
NFL legend Jim Brown dies at 87. The running back and civil rights advocate shattered NFL’s record books in short career.
February 17, 1936 – May 18, 2023
The NFL world is mourning the loss of one of its all-time greats and social activist, Jim Brown. The legendary running back passed away peacefully at his Los Angeles home with his wife by his side at the age of 87.
Brown was not only one of the greatest players in football history but also a prominent civil rights advocate during the 1960s. He shattered the NFL’s record books during his short career from 1957-65, leading the Cleveland Browns to their last NFL title in 1964. Despite his success on the field, Brown retired at the peak of his career to pursue a career in acting, appearing in over 30 films, including “Any Given Sunday” and “The Dirty Dozen.”
His legacy will be remembered not only for his athletic achievements but also for his contributions to social justice and equality. Rest in peace, Jim Brown.
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