Betsy DeVos’s Comments on Historically Black Colleges
People Are Tearing Apart Betsy DeVos's Recent Comment About Historically Black Colleges
Following her controversial confirmation as our nation's new education secretary, Betsy DeVos is making many continue to question why she was even nominated in the first place.
After meeting with a group of administrative leaders from various historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) on Feb. 27, DeVos released an official statement that's receiving a hefty serving of backlash.
Her statement, seen in the tweet below, mentioned how Donald Trump's administration plans to implement "tangible, structural reforms" to allow students from "underserved" communities to achieve success.
Betsy DeVos on HBCUs as "school choice" vs. basic historical facts about segregation on her own department's website pic.twitter.com/b6fs5v78W0
— Brendan Nyhan (@BrendanNyhan) February 28, 2017
The most concerning part of the statement, however, was when the education secretary commented on how HBCUs are "real pioneers when it comes to school choice." She detailed how these schools were apparently born from a choice rather than out of necessity, writing, "They saw that the system wasn't working, that there was an absence of opportunity, so they took it upon themselves to provide the solution." This completely disregards the fact that historically black educational institutions were actually founded because black students weren't allowed to attend white colleges because of segregation.
It comes as no surprise that her statement is getting quite some heat, with many on social media sharing their candid opinions on DeVos's uninformed comments.
Secretary @BetsyDeVos why are you #Whitewashing #HBCU history? Forget abt slavery, Jim Crow, segregation? #historymatters #WhitewashingHBCUs pic.twitter.com/Jut5snl3wa
— Marybeth Gasman (@marybethgasman) February 28, 2017
I don't know if @BetsyDeVos is malignantly ignorant, or maliciously conniving, twisting the history of #HBCUs for her own agenda.
— Maureen Sheridan (@mcscajun) February 28, 2017
Betsy DeVos said HBCUs were about school choice. As if white/colored water fountains were about beverage options. pic.twitter.com/I3tNlER43n
— Resist Dystopia (@AynAyahSteenkur) February 28, 2017
After the controversy, DeVos followed up on Twitter to let people know she's done her history homework. But we're still left scratching our heads at why she even issued the original statement in the first place.
#HBCUs are such an important piece of the fabric of American history—one that encompasses some of our nation's greatest citizens.
— Betsy DeVos (@BetsyDeVosED) February 28, 2017
Providing an alternative option to students denied the right to attend a quality school is the legacy of #HBCUs.
— Betsy DeVos (@BetsyDeVosED) February 28, 2017
But your history was born not out of mere choice, but out of necessity, in the face of racism, and in the aftermath of the Civil War.
— Betsy DeVos (@BetsyDeVosED) February 28, 2017
#HBCUs remain at the forefront of opening doors that had previously been closed to so many.
— Betsy DeVos (@BetsyDeVosED) February 28, 2017
We need more good schools. We need more good teachers. And no child should be denied the opportunity to enter a great school. Not one.
— Betsy DeVos (@BetsyDeVosED) February 28, 2017
