As a history teacher in Elk Grove Unified School District, I try to ensure that my students don’t learn the wrong lessons from the struggles of American history. But I taught my latest course on civil rights to adults in a federal courtroom, not students in a classroom.
I have been a union member of the Elk Grove Education Association for 10 years and have long disagreed with what I believe is the district’s deeply flawed approach to diversity, equity and inclusion. Last year, when the union created a new seat on its board specifically for certain racial and ethnic groups (Blacks, Indigenous people and people of color, also known as BIPOC), I saw an opportunity to change the union from within. I decided to run for the position.
When filling out the position’s nomination form, I discovered a mandatory checkbox stating, “The BIPOC At-Large Representative position is open to … self-identified (members) of one or more of the following racial/ethnic categories.” A list of 11 racial identities followed. As a white person, it did not include me.