FAIR News: FAIR Challenges Kendi on ABC News Program
October 28th, 2021
Bartning and KendiĀ Appear on ABC News' Tamron Hall
Last month FAIR Founder Bion Bartning appeared on Tamron Hall alongside Ibram X. Kendi to discuss his views regarding āanti-racistā curriculum in schools. Kendi is a bestselling author known for promoting the controversial idea that all group-level disparities are caused by racism, and that the government should discriminate against individuals in order to achieve equal outcomes by āraceā group.
Bartning explained that, while he believes Kendi may be well-intentioned, schools need to acknowledge there is more than one way to be āanti-racistā and Kendiās race essentialist belief system will only serve to make people more racist, not less racist: āIf we try to encourage children to embrace these socially-constructed racial identities, which I view as just crude stereotypes, then I think we are just going to create more racism.ā
Watch clips of the interview here.
Vermont Issues Race-Based Vaccination Policy
Recently, the Vermont Department of Health announced on its website that it is prioritizing COVID-19 booster shots based on skin color. People who identify as āwhiteā and are younger than 65 with no high-risk conditions are placed at the back of the line.
Shortly after FAIR was notified of this prioritization, the Department of Health removed that language from its vaccination webpage and buried it deeper within the site. Now, users who create an account and āidentifies (or lives with someone that identifies) as Black, Indigenous, or a person of color (BIPOC)ā are notified that they will receive āpriorityāĀ for a COVID-19 booster shot. People who identify as āwhite,ā however, are not notified that they have been deprioritized.
We have written to Vermontās Commissioner of Health, urging him to retract these racial preferences that violate the Fourteenth Amendment.
Read FAIR's letter to Vermont's Commissioner of Health here.
FAIR Transparency Tutorial
FAIR Transparency is our nonpartisan āGlassdoorā for civil liberties and tolerance. By learning about how people are experiencing diversity, equity, and inclusion policies and programs, this project aims to move our institutions forward toward the pro-human vision of Dr. Martin Luther King.Ā
This video helps guide users through the process of submitting reviews and reports for schools, corporations, government agencies, non-profits, etc., who may be implementing divisive and discriminatory DEI programs.
Meet the FAIR Team
We would like our readers to meet some of the amazing people who are powering FAIR's pro-human movement! So please enjoy this short video highlighting several of our dedicated staff and the reasons theyāre excited to be a part of the FAIR team.
Omni-American Event Follow-Up
The videos from last weekās āShaping an Omni-American Futureā event hosted by the American Sephardi Federation, the Jazz Leadership Project, and the Combat Antisemitism Movement, and sponsored in part by FAIR, are now available on YouTube.Ā
The event featured FAIR Advisor Thomas Chatterton-Williams and other prominent thought leaders discussing how to counter racism and antisemitism.
Video of Day 1:
Video of Day 2:
NEW: Are We Free to Disagree?
On Tuesday, November 2nd, at 7:00pm, FAIR Advisor Inaya Folarin Iman will be hosting an online event titled āAre We Free to Disagree? How to Debate in an Age of Conformity,ā addressing the question: to what extent is free speech a problem on campus, and, to the extent that it is, what can we do to protect it?
Iman will be joined by a diverse panel of thinkers to ādiscuss how best to create a climate wherein we can rediscover the ability to disagree and argue on campus, in the hope that we can reinvigorate the spirit of debate, criticism, and open enquiry.ā
Learn more about the event including how to register here.
FAIR Educator Alliance
Teachers often feel isolated and alone in their schools, but FAIR is here for you! We will be holding weekly informal āhappy hoursā to share experiences and concerns and work on developing resources just for teachers.Ā Weāll also be holding more formal monthly meetings to address issues based on your needs and interests.
For more information, contact Brian Kors atĀ brian.kors@fairforall.org
Grassroots Training Workshops
Are you ready to be an effective advocate for pro-human values in your community? You know in your heart of hearts our common culture of fairness, understanding, and humanity requires you to be civically engaged and actively organizing and advocating in your community.
But how do you get started?
Weāve got you covered with the FAIR Grassroots Leader Training series.
Register now for the next 3-session series to learn practical tools for organizing your community, how to be a more effective advocate, and ways to create positive, bottom-up change in our culture and country. The 3 sessions include:
Grassroots Leader Session 1 | Bottom-Up Organizing
Grassroots Leader Session 2 | Finding Your Place At FAIR
Grassroots Leader Session 1 | Organizing Your Organizing
Register now for the next Grassroots Leader Training series.
Join the FAIR Community
Click here to become a FAIR volunteerĀ or to join a FAIR chapter:
Join a Welcome to FAIR Zoom information session to learn more about our mission by clicking here. Or, to watch a previously recorded sessionĀ click here to visit the Member section of www.fairforall.org.
Sign the FAIR Pledge for a common culture of fairness, understanding and humanity.
Join the FAIR community to connect and share information with other members.
Share your reviews and incident reports on our FAIR Transparency website.