“Sickening and sad,” says Donovan Mitchell of Utah school allowing opt-out of Black history
Feb 7, 2021, 4:18 PM | Updated: Feb 8, 2021, 4:43 pm
FILE: Utah Jazz guard Donovan Mitchell (45) draws the foul from New Orleans Pelicans guard Eric Bledsoe (5) at Vivint Smart Home Arena in Salt Lake City on Tuesday, Jan. 19, 2021. Spenser Heaps, Deseret News
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SALT LAKE CITY — Utah Jazz guard Donovan Mitchell used Twitter on Sunday to respond to a Utah school’s decision allowing parents to opt their children out of Black history month activities.
I don’t know where to start…. racism is taught… and the fact that kids are being told by their own parents to not learn about black history and black excellence is sickening and sad!! And this is just part of the problem….. smh https://t.co/8vWkz0lZKQ
— Donovan Mitchell (@spidadmitchell) February 7, 2021
Mitchell is referring to a decision by Maria Montessori Academy (Academy) in North Ogden, Utah. Last week, parents of children at the school were told they had the option to keep their children out of the planned Black history month activities at the school.
Academy Director Micah Hirokawa said that some parents had asked to opt their children out of the activities, and though he said it went against his personal beliefs, he sent the letter to parents informing them of their options.
“I believe that all of us, and especially our children, need to participate in Black History Month and, in the process, learn how to appreciate and love those who may be different than us,” Hirokawa said.
He also cited his own family’s history with Japanese internment camps as another reason he was personally against allowing parents at the Academy to opt out of Black history month events.
