Panel Discusses The Continuing Issues Of Racism In Austin, Texas

Institutional racism was the main topic of the panel Civil War Ignited: The Power and Place of Confederate namesakes; discussed between school board trustees, students and the NAACP Austin-chapter president.

By, Autumn Wright

On Feb. 28, East Austin Coalition for Quality Education hosted a public panel at Hutson-Tiltotson University regarding education equity and the recent 7-2 vote for Austin Independent School District to change the Confederate names of 5 AISD buildings.

The public forum was created to educate the public on the social issues in the education system and racial issues in Austin.

Moderator Judy Maggio asked the two Lanier high school students what they thought of the school board’s decision to allow the name change and if there is racism in their schools.

Valeria Gonzales, a senior at Lanier, said she agreed with the decision because she wanted change sooner rather than later. Gonzales also said that racism is being passively brought out in a humorous manner.

“People at school treat racism like a joke; they’ll say things like, ‘oh that’s so black,’” said Gonzales. “Keeping these confederate names tells [students] that racism is okay.”

Despite living in a mainly liberal city and having audience members be excited about the name changes, not all students may agree with the school board’s vote.

Vicky Warren, a freshman at Lanier, said she disagreed with the vote because the financial resources should be used on other things like fixing the physical issues of their schools.

“We have rooms that are growing what looks like mold in some classrooms, and I feel like the money should go to that instead of a name change,” said Warren.

Nelson Linder’s, NAACP Austin chapter president, opening statement regards the issue that the Confederacy was established on the premise of white supremacy, therefore, keeping the namesakes and statues of Confederate figures puts a value on white nationalism.

“The documentation of this is very clear; this is white supremacy,” said Linder.

Linder said the U.S. has a hypocrisy of showing compassion for Confederate figures who were racist and killed people based on their skin color; but similar perpetrators, like Hitler, don’t have the same response. Linder said these confederate figures practiced the same behavior as Hitler did towards the Jews, but Confederate leaders still have memorabilia in the U.S., almost commemorating their past actions.

“If I talked about Hitler in a considerate manner, I would be run out of town,” said Linder.

Ann Teich, an AISD school board trustee, was one of two who voted against the name change in the 7-2 vote between the school board. Teich’s stance was not popular amongst the audience and said her viewpoint was criticized when she said the decision was rash and based on emotion.

“Most of the time I feel like my truth has been shut down, and I have been labeled,” said Teich.

Teich said we need to understand the context and history of the Confederacy before we take any action, and to self-reflect that it’s not just based on emotion but rational thought as well.

“Looking at institutional racism takes a lot more time than taking down a statue and renewing a name; it takes time, and it’s emotional work,” said Teich.

Ted Gordon, an AISD school board trustee, said that in keeping these names, which have nothing to do with the students who attend these schools, we as a community are passively allowing the control of white nationalism.

But Gordon said he couldn’t celebrate the name change decision because it shows that Austin has a bigger issue regarding education equity, racism and economic disparity.

“It doesn’t change that we’re in a segregated and inequitable city,” said Gordon.

Gordon said we need to hold our school board and representatives accountable; the school board needs to make the academic achievement of priority and education equity for minority students.

Maggio asked the panel how this issue can be put into a teaching moment.

Linder said with great passion; this was about the crimes white supremacists have committed on black people in the past and the reluctance to properly acknowledge it.

“This is not a textbook conversation; this is about American history. People were killed and lynched based on race,” said Linder.

The forum ended with panelists discussing what is the next call to action, and everyone agreed that superintendents and school board members need to be held accountable for the changes that are needed in their schools.