when Millsaps asks me to do on the movement of education
on the movement of education
on the movement of education my first response was laughter and my
my first response was laughter and my
my first response was laughter and my second response was thinking of all the
second response was thinking of all the
second response was thinking of all the complaints that people have about
complaints that people have about
complaints that people have about education in state of Mississippi
education in state of Mississippi
education in state of Mississippi honestly it’s obvious where the state of
honestly it’s obvious where the state of
honestly it’s obvious where the state of Mississippi wants to go wants to move
Mississippi wants to go wants to move
Mississippi wants to go wants to move education wise of 2025 what the
education wise of 2025 what the
education wise of 2025 what the Mississippi succeeds plan the
Mississippi succeeds plan the
Mississippi succeeds plan the Mississippi Department of Education
Mississippi Department of Education
Mississippi Department of Education hopes to increase student achievement
hopes to increase student achievement
hopes to increase student achievement hopes to increase graduation rates hope
hopes to increase graduation rates hope
hopes to increase graduation rates hope to hopes to increase early childhood
to hopes to increase early childhood
to hopes to increase early childhood literacy and using data hopes to get
literacy and using data hopes to get
literacy and using data hopes to get student school districts up to a C or
student school districts up to a C or
student school districts up to a C or greater so that’s the plan for MDE at
greater so that’s the plan for MDE at
greater so that’s the plan for MDE at the very least but with that plan in
the very least but with that plan in
the very least but with that plan in mind you have to ask yourself you know
mind you have to ask yourself you know
mind you have to ask yourself you know what is everyone complaining about as it
what is everyone complaining about as it
what is everyone complaining about as it concerns Mississippi education and at
concerns Mississippi education and at
concerns Mississippi education and at Ole Miss I studied classics I got my
Ole Miss I studied classics I got my
Ole Miss I studied classics I got my degree in Latin as you can tell I’m
degree in Latin as you can tell I’m
degree in Latin as you can tell I’m totally rich right I’m a journalist with
totally rich right I’m a journalist with
totally rich right I’m a journalist with land degree and one of the funniest
land degree and one of the funniest
land degree and one of the funniest complaints I’ve ever heard was oh
complaints I’ve ever heard was oh
complaints I’ve ever heard was oh tempura Oh mores by Roman consul and
tempura Oh mores by Roman consul and
tempura Oh mores by Roman consul and lawyer
lawyer
lawyer Cicero Marcus told us it’s disarray if
Cicero Marcus told us it’s disarray if
Cicero Marcus told us it’s disarray if you’re nasty
you’re nasty
you’re nasty right and so Cicero gave this
right and so Cicero gave this
right and so Cicero gave this exclamation o the times of the customs
exclamation o the times of the customs
exclamation o the times of the customs and it’s so dramatic right it’s so extra
and it’s so dramatic right it’s so extra
and it’s so dramatic right it’s so extra it’s like Oh children oh this oh that
it’s like Oh children oh this oh that
it’s like Oh children oh this oh that actually he was talking about someone he
actually he was talking about someone he
actually he was talking about someone he thought wanted to kill him but with that
thought wanted to kill him but with that
thought wanted to kill him but with that explanation you can hear the
explanation you can hear the
explanation you can hear the condemnation of the times in which he
condemnation of the times in which he
condemnation of the times in which he lived and that of course is always
lived and that of course is always
lived and that of course is always uttered with a heavy noble sigh that
uttered with a heavy noble sigh that
uttered with a heavy noble sigh that come
come
come [Music]
cícero I’m fond of them
cícero I’m fond of them I’m fond of men who are good with words
I’m fond of men who are good with words
I’m fond of men who are good with words if ancient Rome were the rap game Cicero
if ancient Rome were the rap game Cicero
if ancient Rome were the rap game Cicero would be quavo but you guys have no
would be quavo but you guys have no
would be quavo but you guys have no quavo he’s amigo who’s the beyoncé old
quavo he’s amigo who’s the beyoncé old
quavo he’s amigo who’s the beyoncé old amigos if you don’t know Beyonce don’t
amigos if you don’t know Beyonce don’t
amigos if you don’t know Beyonce don’t talk to me don’t touch me I am on loan
talk to me don’t touch me I am on loan
talk to me don’t touch me I am on loan from the Beehive I will put a bee under
from the Beehive I will put a bee under
from the Beehive I will put a bee under your Instagram pictures like no problem
your Instagram pictures like no problem
your Instagram pictures like no problem but the reason that I’m here today is to
but the reason that I’m here today is to
but the reason that I’m here today is to talk to you about privilege the reason
talk to you about privilege the reason
talk to you about privilege the reason that I can bat around references to
that I can bat around references to
that I can bat around references to ancient Rome and Beyonce is because I am
ancient Rome and Beyonce is because I am
ancient Rome and Beyonce is because I am a product of the Mississippi public
a product of the Mississippi public
a product of the Mississippi public education system I went to headstart and
education system I went to headstart and
education system I went to headstart and Canton Mississippi I went to Ridgeland
Canton Mississippi I went to Ridgeland
Canton Mississippi I went to Ridgeland public schools and then the Madison
public schools and then the Madison
public schools and then the Madison County School District where I be stood
County School District where I be stood
County School District where I be stood by the way I went to Ole Miss I went
by the way I went to Ole Miss I went
by the way I went to Ole Miss I went from 2011 and they actually paid for my
from 2011 and they actually paid for my
from 2011 and they actually paid for my degree in 2016 I finished classes in
degree in 2016 I finished classes in
degree in 2016 I finished classes in 2015 and so my entire life I’ve been a
2015 and so my entire life I’ve been a
2015 and so my entire life I’ve been a product of Mississippi public education
product of Mississippi public education
product of Mississippi public education and many people would look at me and
and many people would look at me and
and many people would look at me and tell you that I sort of count as a
tell you that I sort of count as a
tell you that I sort of count as a success story I grew up as the child of
success story I grew up as the child of
success story I grew up as the child of two teen parents a boy who now as a man
two teen parents a boy who now as a man
two teen parents a boy who now as a man still plucks the cobwebs of the prison
still plucks the cobwebs of the prison
still plucks the cobwebs of the prison industrial complex from his shoulders a
industrial complex from his shoulders a
industrial complex from his shoulders a girl who grew up to become the greatest
girl who grew up to become the greatest
girl who grew up to become the greatest mom that ever could be and who like so
mom that ever could be and who like so
mom that ever could be and who like so many black women shoulders this
many black women shoulders this
many black women shoulders this incredible unfair endurance and strength
incredible unfair endurance and strength
incredible unfair endurance and strength that’s required of her so I’m honest
that’s required of her so I’m honest
that’s required of her so I’m honest about myself my poverty wasn’t the same
about myself my poverty wasn’t the same
about myself my poverty wasn’t the same poverty of so many poor black children
poverty of so many poor black children
poverty of so many poor black children who grew up in rural Mississippi I had
who grew up in rural Mississippi I had
who grew up in rural Mississippi I had books in my house growing up so though I
books in my house growing up so though I
books in my house growing up so though I was poor with two teen parents one who
was poor with two teen parents one who
was poor with two teen parents one who went to juvie soon after I was born
went to juvie soon after I was born
went to juvie soon after I was born I still had early childhood literacy and
I still had early childhood literacy and
I still had early childhood literacy and that gives me the opportunity to stand
that gives me the opportunity to stand
that gives me the opportunity to stand in front of you today sounding like the
in front of you today sounding like the
in front of you today sounding like the nice white lady that I talk like you
nice white lady that I talk like you
nice white lady that I talk like you know what I mean and so I’ve really
know what I mean and so I’ve really
know what I mean and so I’ve really really stick on that honesty about
really stick on that honesty about
really stick on that honesty about privileges because Mississippi has to be
privileges because Mississippi has to be
privileges because Mississippi has to be honest too
honest too
honest too I know you guys are aware of the fact
I know you guys are aware of the fact
I know you guys are aware of the fact that Mississippians are wonderful
that Mississippians are wonderful
that Mississippians are wonderful deflectors whether it’s from ownership
deflectors whether it’s from ownership
deflectors whether it’s from ownership or trying to push ownership of those
or trying to push ownership of those
or trying to push ownership of those students across to somebody else so when
students across to somebody else so when
students across to somebody else so when someone complains to be my Mississippi
someone complains to be my Mississippi
someone complains to be my Mississippi I’m like listen I got this handled I’m
I’m like listen I got this handled I’m
I’m like listen I got this handled I’m down on poverty I totally totally get it
down on poverty I totally totally get it
down on poverty I totally totally get it right I’m invested in this but then you
right I’m invested in this but then you
right I’m invested in this but then you have other Mississippians who want to
have other Mississippians who want to
have other Mississippians who want to tell you well it’s not that bad here
tell you well it’s not that bad here
tell you well it’s not that bad here well it depends on who you ask
well it depends on who you ask
well it depends on who you ask but if we’re telling the truth and if
but if we’re telling the truth and if
but if we’re telling the truth and if we’re talking about movement let’s start
we’re talking about movement let’s start
we’re talking about movement let’s start with a ways Mississippi is going up you
with a ways Mississippi is going up you
with a ways Mississippi is going up you guys are great students awesome students
guys are great students awesome students
guys are great students awesome students great athletes so smart generations
great athletes so smart generations
great athletes so smart generations these kids are hilarious
these kids are hilarious
these kids are hilarious and brilliant and talented a little
and brilliant and talented a little
and brilliant and talented a little sister I didn’t know what a certain
sister I didn’t know what a certain
sister I didn’t know what a certain slang word was and when she was in
slang word was and when she was in
slang word was and when she was in seventh grade she made me a PowerPoint
seventh grade she made me a PowerPoint
seventh grade she made me a PowerPoint and with T a new slide with Cunliffe
and with T a new slide with Cunliffe
and with T a new slide with Cunliffe with h a new slab would come up with an
with h a new slab would come up with an
with h a new slab would come up with an O and another T a new slide would come
O and another T a new slide would come
O and another T a new slide would come up and I learned something new that day
up and I learned something new that day
up and I learned something new that day and it was problematic and it was awful
and it was problematic and it was awful
and it was problematic and it was awful and it was sexist but these are the ways
and it was sexist but these are the ways
and it was sexist but these are the ways in which young people are learning they
in which young people are learning they
in which young people are learning they have YouTube they have tumblr they are
have YouTube they have tumblr they are
have YouTube they have tumblr they are woke they understand imperialism they
woke they understand imperialism they
woke they understand imperialism they have so much technology and they are
have so much technology and they are
have so much technology and they are wonderful Mississippi public education
wonderful Mississippi public education
wonderful Mississippi public education students but they all don’t have the
students but they all don’t have the
students but they all don’t have the same opportunities right so on the right
same opportunities right so on the right
same opportunities right so on the right let me move to my right on the right we
let me move to my right on the right we
let me move to my right on the right we have the efforts to improve education of
have the efforts to improve education of
have the efforts to improve education of charter schools for instance private
charter schools for instance private
charter schools for instance private school bathrooms and on the left and you
school bathrooms and on the left and you
school bathrooms and on the left and you should never for any reason confuse a
should never for any reason confuse a
should never for any reason confuse a Democrat for a leftist but just for the
Democrat for a leftist but just for the
Democrat for a leftist but just for the purpose of this rhetorical exercise we
purpose of this rhetorical exercise we
purpose of this rhetorical exercise we have people in Mississippi who are
have people in Mississippi who are
have people in Mississippi who are trying extremely hard to get school
trying extremely hard to get school
trying extremely hard to get school funding and to have legislative
funding and to have legislative
funding and to have legislative accountability for the ways in which the
accountability for the ways in which the
accountability for the ways in which the students in Mississippi are educated at
students in Mississippi are educated at
students in Mississippi are educated at least by how much money you spend on
least by how much money you spend on
least by how much money you spend on them because it’s not all about money
them because it’s not all about money
them because it’s not all about money but education requires some doubloons
but education requires some doubloons
but education requires some doubloons and that’s just the truth of a and then
and that’s just the truth of a and then
and that’s just the truth of a and then of course down I was at the Jackson Free
of course down I was at the Jackson Free
of course down I was at the Jackson Free Press from 2016 to January of this year
Press from 2016 to January of this year
Press from 2016 to January of this year I was the Hechinger reports Mississippi
I was the Hechinger reports Mississippi
I was the Hechinger reports Mississippi education reporting fellow it was my job
education reporting fellow it was my job
education reporting fellow it was my job to report on any call
to report on any call
to report on any call innovation in the state of Mississippi
innovation in the state of Mississippi
innovation in the state of Mississippi when I left the jfp newsroom in January
when I left the jfp newsroom in January
when I left the jfp newsroom in January of this year all the failing school
of this year all the failing school
of this year all the failing school districts in the state of Mississippi
districts in the state of Mississippi
districts in the state of Mississippi were majority black and then they had
were majority black and then they had
were majority black and then they had become in this case in several pockets
become in this case in several pockets
become in this case in several pockets of schools mostly black and mostly brown
of schools mostly black and mostly brown
of schools mostly black and mostly brown due to gifts from other countries
due to gifts from other countries
due to gifts from other countries immigrant children entering Mississippi
immigrant children entering Mississippi
immigrant children entering Mississippi public education classrooms and
public education classrooms and
public education classrooms and enriching the experiences that children
enriching the experiences that children
enriching the experiences that children have there whether or not those school
have there whether or not those school
have there whether or not those school districts or prepare to enrich their
districts or prepare to enrich their
districts or prepare to enrich their experiences inside the classroom
experiences inside the classroom
experiences inside the classroom Mississippi Department of Education had
Mississippi Department of Education had
Mississippi Department of Education had been called by the GOP leadership in our
been called by the GOP leadership in our
been called by the GOP leadership in our state by refusing to honor the title
state by refusing to honor the title
state by refusing to honor the title nine guidelines that the lifetime ago
nine guidelines that the lifetime ago
nine guidelines that the lifetime ago Obama administration set up in order to
Obama administration set up in order to
Obama administration set up in order to protect trans students and their right
protect trans students and their right
protect trans students and their right to use the bathrooms that fit their
to use the bathrooms that fit their
to use the bathrooms that fit their gender identity and that’s more than
gender identity and that’s more than
gender identity and that’s more than bathrooms that’s protecting them inside
bathrooms that’s protecting them inside
bathrooms that’s protecting them inside the classroom to vouchers for special
the classroom to vouchers for special
the classroom to vouchers for special needs class first special needs students
needs class first special needs students
needs class first special needs students could barely afford to send them to
could barely afford to send them to
could barely afford to send them to private schools because not only did
private schools because not only did
private schools because not only did they not cover full tuition but those
they not cover full tuition but those
they not cover full tuition but those private schools did not in many many
private schools did not in many many
private schools did not in many many cases have the ability to serve them for
cases have the ability to serve them for
cases have the ability to serve them for whatever needs that they had and the
whatever needs that they had and the
whatever needs that they had and the best performing students in Mississippi
best performing students in Mississippi
best performing students in Mississippi were non Hispanic Latino white girls who
were non Hispanic Latino white girls who
were non Hispanic Latino white girls who paid full price for lunch and didn’t
paid full price for lunch and didn’t
paid full price for lunch and didn’t have IEP s
have IEP s
have IEP s and that ladies and gentleman is not
and that ladies and gentleman is not
and that ladies and gentleman is not feminism that is not the definition of
feminism that is not the definition of
feminism that is not the definition of progress the Annie E casey Foundation
progress the Annie E casey Foundation
progress the Annie E casey Foundation releases a report every year ranking the
releases a report every year ranking the
releases a report every year ranking the way that children in the United States
way that children in the United States
way that children in the United States grew up but consequently not the
grew up but consequently not the
grew up but consequently not the consequences I guess but the
consequences I guess but the
consequences I guess but the circumstances of their birth the
circumstances of their birth the
circumstances of their birth the outcomes of where they live in
outcomes of where they live in
outcomes of where they live in Mississippi typically ranks dead last
Mississippi typically ranks dead last
Mississippi typically ranks dead last to be fair from the last Annie E casey
to be fair from the last Annie E casey
to be fair from the last Annie E casey Foundation study Mississippians and
Foundation study Mississippians and
Foundation study Mississippians and improved somewhat with Mississippi’s
improved somewhat with Mississippi’s
improved somewhat with Mississippi’s children are still living in poverty too
children are still living in poverty too
children are still living in poverty too many of them live in poverty too many of
many of them live in poverty too many of
many of them live in poverty too many of them don’t have access to health care
them don’t have access to health care
them don’t have access to health care too many of them don’t have early
too many of them don’t have early
too many of them don’t have early childhood literacy access despite the
childhood literacy access despite the
childhood literacy access despite the best efforts of Mississippi Department
best efforts of Mississippi Department
best efforts of Mississippi Department of Education in order to provide that to
of Education in order to provide that to
of Education in order to provide that to them you know these kids are like ice
them you know these kids are like ice
them you know these kids are like ice they’re beautiful when they’re smart
they’re beautiful when they’re smart
they’re beautiful when they’re smart they’re hilarious and they deserve
they’re hilarious and they deserve
they’re hilarious and they deserve better than what the adults in the state
better than what the adults in the state
better than what the adults in the state of Mississippi give them we have to be
of Mississippi give them we have to be
of Mississippi give them we have to be honest with ourselves about the
honest with ourselves about the
honest with ourselves about the privileges that we have we can’t be
privileges that we have we can’t be
privileges that we have we can’t be finger wagging at people who are poor
finger wagging at people who are poor
finger wagging at people who are poor when we have the ability to pay tickets
when we have the ability to pay tickets
when we have the ability to pay tickets to Millsaps College to watch people do
to Millsaps College to watch people do
to Millsaps College to watch people do TED talks
TED talks
TED talks you know they require so much more than
you know they require so much more than
you know they require so much more than what they’ve been given they have known
what they’ve been given they have known
what they’ve been given they have known in their lifetime two presidents Barack
in their lifetime two presidents Barack
in their lifetime two presidents Barack oh you say nobama who despite his charm
oh you say nobama who despite his charm
oh you say nobama who despite his charm and warmth and blackness still lead an
and warmth and blackness still lead an
and warmth and blackness still lead an imperialist white supremacist patriarchy
imperialist white supremacist patriarchy
imperialist white supremacist patriarchy and Donald Trump who was a mess but okay
and Donald Trump who was a mess but okay
and Donald Trump who was a mess but okay so journalists have this really bad
so journalists have this really bad
so journalists have this really bad thing of joking about Donald Trump but I
thing of joking about Donald Trump but I
thing of joking about Donald Trump but I will say with full seriousness as a
will say with full seriousness as a
will say with full seriousness as a professional journalist I do not have
professional journalist I do not have
professional journalist I do not have the right to talk to him about a friend
the right to talk to him about a friend
the right to talk to him about a friend that’s just ridiculous that I get to
that’s just ridiculous that I get to
that’s just ridiculous that I get to brush his file like someone that you
brush his file like someone that you
brush his file like someone that you don’t like in the cafeteria at school he
don’t like in the cafeteria at school he
don’t like in the cafeteria at school he is a white supremacist he was in the
is a white supremacist he was in the
is a white supremacist he was in the faux band he is dangerous to all people
faux band he is dangerous to all people
faux band he is dangerous to all people of the United States of America and
of the United States of America and
of the United States of America and that’s the truth the United States of
that’s the truth the United States of
that’s the truth the United States of America has to deal with not twin evils
America has to deal with not twin evils
America has to deal with not twin evils but sibling evils of institutional
but sibling evils of institutional
but sibling evils of institutional racism and poverty and until America
racism and poverty and until America
racism and poverty and until America does that and until Mississippi does
does that and until Mississippi does
does that and until Mississippi does that the students in Mississippi are
that the students in Mississippi are
that the students in Mississippi are just will not get what it is that they
just will not get what it is that they
just will not get what it is that they deserve I spent the last 10 months
deserve I spent the last 10 months
deserve I spent the last 10 months working for a story for the Center for
working for a story for the Center for
working for a story for the Center for Investigative Reporting on the way that
Investigative Reporting on the way that
Investigative Reporting on the way that Mississippi’s public school students
Mississippi’s public school students
Mississippi’s public school students learn about the civil rights movement
learn about the civil rights movement
learn about the civil rights movement their textbooks are old they mentioned
their textbooks are old they mentioned
their textbooks are old they mentioned James K vardaman who was such a white
James K vardaman who was such a white
James K vardaman who was such a white supremacist way more often than they
supremacist way more often than they
supremacist way more often than they mentioned the Freedom Riders
mentioned the Freedom Riders
mentioned the Freedom Riders they say that Martin Luther King jr.
they say that Martin Luther King jr.
they say that Martin Luther King jr. gave a speech to make people excited
gave a speech to make people excited
gave a speech to make people excited they barely mentioned women and
they barely mentioned women and
they barely mentioned women and Mississippi public school students
Mississippi public school students
Mississippi public school students deserve better they do not deserve the
deserve better they do not deserve the
deserve better they do not deserve the proliferation of charter schools as an
proliferation of charter schools as an
proliferation of charter schools as an idea that’s an answer to bettering
idea that’s an answer to bettering
idea that’s an answer to bettering education when in many respects charter
education when in many respects charter
education when in many respects charter schools might not give students the
schools might not give students the
schools might not give students the education that they they’re hoping for
education that they they’re hoping for
education that they they’re hoping for and also in many respects might serve as
and also in many respects might serve as
and also in many respects might serve as barriers even to integration in the
barriers even to integration in the
barriers even to integration in the state of Mississippi so I say all that
state of Mississippi so I say all that
state of Mississippi so I say all that to say the Mississippi deserves better
to say the Mississippi deserves better
to say the Mississippi deserves better and it’s not going to move anywhere deep
and it’s not going to move anywhere deep
and it’s not going to move anywhere deep fat
fat
fat if it keeps using these superficial
if it keeps using these superficial
if it keeps using these superficial methods in order to say hey we’re not as
methods in order to say hey we’re not as
methods in order to say hey we’re not as bad as everyone else it’s okay to be a
bad as everyone else it’s okay to be a
bad as everyone else it’s okay to be a mess
mess
mess you know because you will not really but
you know because you will not really but
you know because you will not really but you have to be honest with yourself
you have to be honest with yourself
you have to be honest with yourself right you don’t know what to improve and
right you don’t know what to improve and
right you don’t know what to improve and once you acknowledge it and it’s all
once you acknowledge it and it’s all
once you acknowledge it and it’s all Mississippi and knowledge is what it
Mississippi and knowledge is what it
Mississippi and knowledge is what it needs to do it’s not going to get better
needs to do it’s not going to get better
needs to do it’s not going to get better for these young people who deserve so so
for these young people who deserve so so
for these young people who deserve so so much more than what they’ve been given
much more than what they’ve been given
much more than what they’ve been given so far thank you so much
so far thank you so much
so far thank you so much [Applause]
”
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