Join Project RACE members, parents of multiracial children, interracial families and multiracial adults in a rally for the rights of multiracial children in the Illinois schools (see "Trouble in Illinois" story below).

There has been a very troubling development in some schools in our country: teachers, school administrators, and now school board members who choose to single out multiracial students for racist remarks. It isn't new. In 1994, a principal in Alabama told students that interracial dating would not be permitted at the prom. He also told a multiracial student that she was "a mistake." The principal was not fired. He became president of the local school board. This year Project RACE became aware of incidents with similar situations involving teachers in South Carolina and Missouri. One was fired and one was not.

Now it's Evanston, Illinois, a north suburb of Chicago and a school board member named Hecky Powell, who criticized a multiracial classification on school registration forms. He went on to describe multiracial people as "mutts." Interracial families in Evanston called for his resignation. After an insincere apology, he was elevated to vice-president of the school board instead. Now he has further inflamed the multiracial community by adding an item to the menu of the restaurant he owns called the "MUTT SPECIAL." He has commented that "MUTT" stands for "Me, Uttering the Truth." Now he has a "Mutt" T-shirt and newsletter.

Racists like Hecky Powell must not be allowed to get away with fostering hate, especially when they are involved in any way with the education of our children. Please e-mail us at projrace@aol.com to join us in calling for Mr. Powell's dismissal from the school board. Below is a letter written by Project RACE member Kimberly C., to the Evanston newspaper. Thank you, Kimberly!

Editor
The Evanston Express
512 Green Bay Rd. Suite 100
Kenilworth, IL 60043

Dear Editor:
On a recent visit to Evanston, I acquired the April 20 - 26, 2003 edition of the Evanston Express and was appalled by what I read in the article "Public wants resignations from Powell, board". As the Vice President of the District 65 Board of Education, Hecky Powell's description of Multiracial children as "mutts" was evidence of his bias and contempt for an increasing population of American youth.

Mr. Powell has demonstrated that he is not qualified to lead the Board of Education. It is obvious that he lacks a vision for the education and future of any child. He lacks the knowledge that "race" is a social/political construct thats sole purpose is to support and maintain divisive racist attitudes, behaviors, practices, and institutions. Public education is an institution that is not devoid of racism. Mr. Powell's attitude and behavior are evidence of his acceptance and perpetuation of the racism that permeates our society, including the education and lives of our children.

As the mother of Multiracial young adults, I must concur with the outraged parents of District 65 who demanded Mr. Powell's resignation. His continued presence on the Board and Board members' unwillingness to remove him are an affront to all in the Multiracial community nationwide. Mr. Powell and fellow supporting board members must resign for the future of all children. Ignorance, bias, and hate have no place in education.

Kimberly C.
Redford, MI