FLOTUS Fails to Address Causes for Resurgence of Segregation!

By John W. Lillpop

First Lady Michelle Obama recently made headlines with remarks she delivered to graduating high school seniors in Topeka, Kansas, where the landmark Brown v. Board of Education case began and was the means for the Supreme Court to outlaw segregation in public schools 60 years ago.

Among other remarks, Mrs. Obama warned students and parents of the Topeka school district that “by some measures, our schools are as segregated as they were when Dr. [Martin Luther] King gave his final speech.”

She added:

“The truth is that Brown v. Board of Education isn’t just about our history, it’s about our future. … Brown is still being decided every single day….not just in our courts and schools — but in how we live our lives. Our laws may no longer separate us based on our skin color, but nothing in the Constitution says we have to eat together in the lunch room, or live together in the same neighborhoods. There is no court case against believing in stereotypes or thinking that certain types of hateful jokes or comments are funny.”

While the FLOTUS was quick to warn of the resurgence of a great social evil, she made little or no attempt to explain why the backsliding is taking place.

With all due respect to Mrs. Obama, the following question seems worthy of consideration:

Might the voluntary increase in the pursuit of segregation in activities not mandated by law (“eating together, living together in neighborhoods,” etc.) have something to do with the fact that the mainstream media, liberal politicians, and educators constantly couch EVERYTHING through the prism of race?

Examples include:

Caucasians are constantly portrayed as evil and abusive. One university even went so far recently as to ask its community “How do we make sure that in future years ‘we are not as white as we are today?’;

The nation’s overall progress in improving race relations is regularly belittled and dismissed as “insufficient”;

America’s first president of color promises a “post-racial era,” but instead further divides Americans on the basis of race and class;

Opposing Barack Obama and his very liberal agenda is constantly attributed to racist motives;

Austerity, financial responsibility, and efforts to control deficit spending are suspiciously eyed as racist;

The US attorney general refers to “my people” in testimony before Congress, and refuses to take action against members of his people (such as new black panthers) whom appear to be engaged in voter intimidation tactics at polling places;

A respected US House Member, Paul Ryan,  speaks of the urgent need to address crime and poverty among inner city youth, and is immediately pummeled by the black congressional caucus for racist views.

In summary, Mrs. Obama, have you considered that the resurgence of segregation might be a by-product of constant harping on the motives and objectives of Caucasian people, where such actions polarize both Caucasians and people of color?

Why not promote rhetoric and policy which seeks to heal divisions and build unity, rather than constant race baiting for political gain?