Buttigieg pushes back on criticism of his views on minority students
Source: Politico
Buttigieg pushes back on criticism of his views on minority students
By Rishika Dugyala, Politico November 26, 2019
Democratic presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg on Tuesday responded to backlash for his 2011 comment that children from poor, minority neighborhoods struggle in school because they lack role models: What he said does not reflect the totality of my understanding then, and certainly now.
The video clip of the mayor of South Bend, Ind. a candidate already struggling to appeal to black voters, a key part of the Democratic constituency has drawn outcry on social media. The Roots Michael Harriot wrote an essay torching the candidate for perpetuating a narrative that blames the victims of systemic racism.
Kids need to see evidence that education is going to work for them, Buttigieg said in the video, a clip from a mayoral candidate forum eight years ago. There are a lot of kids, especially the lower-income minority neighborhoods, who literally just havent seen it work. There isnt somebody they know personally who testifies to the value of education.
On Tuesday, Buttigieg told reporters that he was speaking about the need for mentorship and career pathways.
I wanted to make sure I communicated that I'm very conscious of the advantages and privileges that I have had, Buttigieg said, not through any great wealth, but certainly through education, through the advantages that come with being white and being male and that's part of why I know I've got to make myself useful as a candidate and as president.
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