Posted on Dec 15, 2023
Boston holiday party furor underscores the unrelenting intensity of race in the national...
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https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2023/12/15/boston-holiday-party-furor-diversity-equity-and-inclusion-efforts/ [login to see] 7/
A mistake involving an invitation to an annual holiday party for elected officials of color in Massachusetts sparked controversy this week, a dustup some say reflects growing nationwide backlash to diversity, equity and inclusion efforts in higher education and the private sector.
Michelle Wu, the first woman and person of color elected mayor in Boston, apologized this week after an invitation to an "Electeds of Color Holiday Party" was mistakenly sent to every city council member. Outgoing City Councilor Frank Baker, who is white, said this isn't the first time he's been excluded from an event meant for people of color.
"Boston is known as a racist city. Maybe we are, maybe we are, based on that," Baker said. "But it isn't white people doing this. This is people of color being exclusionary."
A mistake involving an invitation to an annual holiday party for elected officials of color in Massachusetts sparked controversy this week, a dustup some say reflects growing nationwide backlash to diversity, equity and inclusion efforts in higher education and the private sector.
Michelle Wu, the first woman and person of color elected mayor in Boston, apologized this week after an invitation to an "Electeds of Color Holiday Party" was mistakenly sent to every city council member. Outgoing City Councilor Frank Baker, who is white, said this isn't the first time he's been excluded from an event meant for people of color.
"Boston is known as a racist city. Maybe we are, maybe we are, based on that," Baker said. "But it isn't white people doing this. This is people of color being exclusionary."
Boston holiday party furor underscores the unrelenting intensity of race in the national...
Posted from usatoday.com
Boston
Diversity
Holidays
Posted 5 mo ago
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PO1 William "Chip" Nagel good day Brother William, always informational and of the most interesting. Thanks for sharing, have a blessed day!
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PO1 William "Chip" Nagel
"Why are events like this important?
Council member Brian Worrell, who is Black, told the Boston Herald the Elected Officials of Color group has been around for more than a decade, one of what he called many "spaces for all kinds of specific groups in the city and city government." Councilor Tania Fernandes Anderson, who identifies as an African immigrant and Muslim-American woman, told her colleagues in an email obtained by the Herald that the celebration is not about excluding anyone, but rather "about creating spaces for like-minded individuals to connect and support each other.""...
"Why are events like this important?
Council member Brian Worrell, who is Black, told the Boston Herald the Elected Officials of Color group has been around for more than a decade, one of what he called many "spaces for all kinds of specific groups in the city and city government." Councilor Tania Fernandes Anderson, who identifies as an African immigrant and Muslim-American woman, told her colleagues in an email obtained by the Herald that the celebration is not about excluding anyone, but rather "about creating spaces for like-minded individuals to connect and support each other.""...
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