We’ve met the enemy: It’s some of us

‘Why are members of sororities and fraternities gathering petitions of support and lobbying for the retention of a Black principal who, over three years, failed to correct repetitive problems,’ asked Goliath. Davis, III, Ph.D. GOLIATH J. DAVIS, III, Ph.D., Contributor ST. PETERSBURG — My phone rang constantly yesterday with calls from family, friends and others […]

We’ve met the enemy: It’s some of us
‘Why are members of sororities and fraternities gathering petitions of support and lobbying for the retention of a Black principal who, over three years, failed to correct repetitive problems,’ asked Goliath. Davis, III, Ph.D.

GOLIATH J. DAVIS, III, Ph.D., Contributor

ST. PETERSBURG — My phone rang constantly yesterday with calls from family, friends and others informing me of reports surrounding the status of Lakewood Principal Erin Savage. Some said she was fired, and others reported she was being demoted. It is being reported that columns I have written over the last three years are the culprit.

I later learned that she might be transferred someplace else in the district. As stated in my last column, the student confirming behavior at Lakewood’s graduation on May 17 was the icing on the cake that led to her impending transfer if, in fact, a transfer is in order. I directed readers to the district’s website to view the graduation ceremony, but it was taken down, edited and reposted on May 19. If interested, you can now view the sanitized version.

Several callers were annoyed by statements posted on Facebook, and I encouraged them to ignore the comments and thanked them for their support. I find it interesting how some individuals will readily turn a blind eye or a deaf ear to egregious behaviors committed by friends and members of their ethnic group, sorority, or fraternity. This behavior is also a feature of various occupational groups, such as the police.

So, while I am not bothered by the statements, I am extremely annoyed by their messages. For example, why is it not appropriate for a white teacher or administrator to fail our children, but on the other hand, we want to ignore the same behavior when committed by a Black teacher?

Why are members of sororities and fraternities gathering petitions of support and lobbying for the retention of a Black principal who, over three years, failed to correct repetitive problems?

Why am I a villain for calling out poor administrative practices that have adversely impacted scholars of all ethnicities, and why am I blamed for advocating for eradicating what the best and brightest at Lakewood termed “administrative incompetence?”  More importantly, why was it ignored for three years and only acted upon when two white scholars protested during a graduation ceremony?

I am unaware of any protests by my African-American brothers and sisters when two Lakewood assistant principals were relieved of their duties in a move to right the ship. So, why can’t the head of the school be held to account?

I never called for anyone’s termination; I merely indicated they should do their jobs.

So, why didn’t Savage do her job, why didn’t Area Superintendent Dywayne B. Hinds, Sr. do his job and appropriately supervise her and why did it take Superintendent Kevin Hendrick so long to do his job? The miracle worker (Deputy Superintendent Woodford) gets a pass on this one due to her short tenure in her new job.

The operative word is “some.” In a recent conversation with a classmate who was gathering information for an article he anticipates writing, I asked why he was writing, given the subject of the article, if written, would be Black. His response was a simple one.

“I would hold a white man accountable.”

In other words, accountability is not predicated on race or gender. I thank that student and other color and gender-blind community members who are committed to improving educational outcomes for our students.

We have met the enemy — it is all who put friendship and organizational affiliation above the quality education of our Black scholars and all who ascend to leadership and love the fact that they are there more than they love making a difference.