"She noted the event also included a tribute to pop singer Michael Jackson"

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/10482634/

What Morgan said.

The whole thing is a meta-joke spelling itself out over time: three white teachers give elementary school kids portraits of OJ, Dennis Rodman, and RuPaul, to help students "celebrate" Black History Month (*cough cough). But then parents come out in support of the teachers:

"Sharon Tinson, who has two daughters at the school....noted that Simpson, like Rodman, was a great athlete before falling from grace. RuPaul simply has an alternative lifestyle..."

Another parent sez "These guys were heroes...people make mistakes. I think they show kids they can be somebody...."

So here we have what was - almost certainly - a case of black humour...or, rather, a twisted kind of a joke by the teachers, but then others took their suggestions for black heroes seriously, at which point the original joke is somehow rendered not a joke in the first place, which just makes it even funnier.....

Is Michael Vick laying an HR charge against the teachers?

Why wasn't World Champion bowler and former King of Scotland, Idi Amin on one of the signs? I think he shared a tailor with Michael Jackson as well.

Sounds like Poe's Law again.

Is the problem that they're not black enough, or that those launching the complaint aren't sensitive enough about the alternative lifestyles (including, possibly, psychopathic preferences) of others? I don't see how "Black History Month" could be mocked by mention of real black celebrities.

At least, not unless it's not a real occasion and instead is only used to make some people feel better about themselves for being more "caring" and selectively ignoring reality.

My respect for Morgan Freeman goes up every time he is in the news...or in a movie...he is one of the few.

Those NAACP folks were more offended by the whiteness of the teachers...any excuse would do.
Why not Cassius Clay (Muhammed Ali), Floyd Paterson and Mike Tyson?

EBD - The whole thing becomes even more absurd when you consider that 90% of the school's population is Latino!

Hold that praise, Lew. Freeman was in the news briefly about a month or so back for having 'taken up' with his step grand daughter.

It sounds like double standards and is racism if only select groups get to celebrate the great achievements of people within their race.

Every race should get a “special” month or none should. Black history month obviously mocks the fact that blacks are an elitist group of segregated individuals with privileged hiring, education, and loan advantages. Why on earth should one race be allowed to have dedicated magazines, newspapers, television programs, colleges, and tons of other professional societies and exclusive club membership based on their race? Could you imagine a mainstream white magazine or White Network Television? It is outrageous that society stands quietly by silenced by the fear of being labelled racist, while open racism steps on their heads.

Sigh.

Here we go again. Instead of laughing at the absurdity of the situation, we get the even more absurd "can you imagine a white...?" type of comments.

Seriously, get a grip.

Yes jim, it IS absurd and it IS being laughed at, but the 'can you imagine a white....' is the question that begs to be asked time and time again.

My son recently receieved a pamphlet from his school from the Alberta government and the student loan program. The cover photo of this little leaflet captures what I see to be as the beef of many of us here. The photo shows a group of 7 or 8 students. All of them are minorities except one white girl....but she's in a wheelchair! We've been tripping over our white guilt for several generations now, apologizing to any group, be the apology warranted or not, in some lame quest in the belief that policial correctness and inclusion will lead us down the path to total galactic consciousness.

Yeah, get a grip alright.

Eskimo - We don't need "white" magazines or "white" networks because, by and large, mainstream culture is "white".

There are many valid arguments against political correctness and our slavish obsession with "diversity" as the most noble peak of human achievement. Whining about how bad poor ole oppressed Whitey has it, though, isn't one of them.

"Whining about how bad poor ole oppressed Whitey has it, though, isn't one of them."

True.

And showing students sports stars as role models is not very well thought out. There are many successful members of minorities who made their way in life without any talent in sports or entertainment. Not everyone can run a football like OJ or sing like Aretha, but everyone can work hard,get an education and BE somebody.

Maybe Jocelyn Elders would have been a better role model, but most Afro-American kids have probably never heard of her,or Thomas Sowell.

Posted by: jim>

“Whining about how bad poor ole oppressed Whitey has it, though, isn't one of them”

Yea, there’s always one in the crowd isn’t there. What whining and what oppression? It sounds more like putting words in someone else’s mouth but defiantly no argument was put forward with supporting facts as opposition.

“.....by and large, mainstream culture is "white".”

It seems like you had better role down your window and check out the geography or rather the global demographics a little better.

It is funny as hell to me though that a “non racist” defender of all that is black naturally assumes that my earlier statement was referring to white only and not inclusive of Asian or other non affirmative action candidates. Get a grip indeed.

What about George Washington Carver?