With support from the University of Richmond

History News Network

History News Network puts current events into historical perspective. Subscribe to our newsletter for new perspectives on the ways history continues to resonate in the present. Explore our archive of thousands of original op-eds and curated stories from around the web. Join us to learn more about the past, now.

If Racism's Dead, How Do We Account for this? -- "See How One Town Stands Up To Michelle When She Tries To Ruin High School Graduation"

155374-michelle-obama.jpg

In surfing the Internet this week, we came across Americanoverlook.com.  Its headline story -- "See How One Town Stands Up To Michelle When She Tries To Ruin High School Graduation" -- begins:  

Students at a Topeka, Kansas, high school are furious over First Lady Michelle Obama upstaging seniors at their graduation ceremony.

The first lady decided to speak at the graduation to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Brown v. Board of Education (1954). This game-changing decision outlawed racial segregation in public schools.

But students and parents say they want the graduation to focus on students’ achievement and that while Mrs. Obama’s speech is warranted, it doesn’t belong at their graduation ceremony.

Not so bad, you say?  Maybe there is a legitimate reason to oppose her visit?  Then you read the comments posted on the discussion board -- 696 comments as of April 22, 9:15pm.  Here's a sampling:

155374-comments1.png

And some say racism's dead?

Really?

155374-comment2.png