Diversity, equity, and inclusion policies have become so varied that they now encompass practices reminiscent of the Jim Crow era.
In a Chicago-area school district, an initiative has been launched to enhance academic achievement among black and Latino students by introducing classes exclusively for each racial group. These segregated classes, labeled as “affinity” classes, aim to address the perceived academic achievement gap by fostering a more comfortable learning environment for black and Latino students.
Evanston, Illinois, School Board Vice President Monique Parsons characterized the issue this month, stating, “Our black students are, for lack of a better word … at the bottom, consistently still. And they are being outperformed consistently.”