By John Dempsey, WLS-AM news
(NORTHFIELD) In the northern suburbs, some New Trier HIgh School parents have objected to an upcoming civil-rights seminar. Hundreds of people showed up at Monday night’s New Trier School board meeting in Northfield to discuss the issue. Critics of the seminar say it lacks conservative voices and looks at the crucial issue of race in a one-sided manner.
This morning on “The Big John and Ray Show” on WLS, conservative black minister Corey Brooks of Chicago, who attended Monday’s meeting, said the seminar will not be balanced. “I think what’s going to happen is that they’re going to have some speakers who are going to lead people to believe that African-Americans all think the same way and that is not necessarily true.”
Brooks also said there are many black activists whom he says profit from racial division in society. “You know there are some ‘race pimps’ I call them and those are individuals who are making money off our grievances and they want us to continue to have grievances with whites and blacks not getting along and that is unfortunate. We gotta do a better job of making sure that we don’t judge people by the color of their skin but by the content of their character just like Martin Luther King said.”
The New Trier School district issued a statement saying it is “confident” the seminar will examine issues from multiple perspectives and provide a positive experience for students.
However Reverend Brooks told WLS he disagrees. “The problem is more so the speaker lineup. I think that there is not a diversity of thought and it’s amazing to me that ofttimes people on the left claim to be so open minded, except when it comes to conservative thoughts and conservative opinions. As soon as a conservative or someone different from the leftist view tries to present themselves and present their thoughts they are quickly cut down and that is unfortunate.”
Brooks told WLS the problems of African Americans in today’s society have more to do with poverty than with race.
The New Trier seminar is set for February 28th.
@ 2017 WLS-AM News
