The toughest, yet most important, task of a teacher is to address students’ shortcomings head on, regardless of how uncomfortable such confrontations may be.  This was never more true on the occasions when, as a professor at Miami University, I believed a student had violated the student code of conduct, especially when it involved academic dishonesty.

After laying out whatever evidence I had of the student’s transgression, the accused’s standard response was, “I am not that kind of person.”  In what I still consider an important teaching moment, I too had a standard response.

I am sure you think you are not that kind of person and I am absolutely sure you wish people would not think of you as that kind of person, but unfortunately, in this circumstance you were.  So let’s talk about why, in this case, you did something that you obviously know is wrong.

I could not help but think about those occasions this morning, not just the national Martin Luther King Holiday, but the late civil rights leader’s actual birthday.  In contrast to Dr. King’s words of hope and inclusion, there was Donald Trump telling a reporter, “I am the least racist person you will ever interview.”  In his own way, Trump was telling us, despite the evidence, “I am not that kind of person.”

Sadly, my standard response would not have been appropriate if I had the opportunity to confront Trump.  We now know, based on reports including one from Fox News analyst Erick Ericson, Trump’s comments on Thursday were not the unfortunate consequence of a heated policy exchange.  Trump called friends and allies on Thursday night asking them what they thought would be the feedback to his using such language in his meeting on DACA and Temporary Protective Status (TPS) with a bi-partisan Congressional delegation.  Over the weekend at Mar-a-Lago, Trump bragged that he thought his comments would help him with his base.

Make no mistake.  When accused of being racist, Donald Trump cannot even pretend he is not that kind of person.  Time and time again, when given an opportunity to ease American racial and religious divisions, he has chosen the most vile and indefensible path.  Labeling Mexican immigrants as rapists and drug dealers. Attacking a Muslim Gold-Star family.  Questioning the ability of a native born judge with Hispanic ancestry to do his job.  Suggesting mobs of white supremacists and neo-Nazis in Charlottesville included good people.  And finally, Thursday’s comments about Haiti, El Salvador and African nations.  And, he is proud of it. And uses his racism as a badge of honor which endears him to his supporters.

So, on this MLK holiday, I wonder not what my response would be, but what Dr. King would say to us.  I am pretty sure, he would view recent events as just more Edmund Pettus Bridge moments in the arc of racial history in the United States.  And just as those who crossed that bridge on March 7, 1965 sent the nation a message that certain behaviors and conditions were unacceptable, Americans need to again send that message.  And the best way to do that is at the ballot box.  So just as Dr. King and others said we have a right to be on this bridge, every American needs to reinforce the idea they have a right to cast their votes despite whatever obstacles are placed in front of them.

POSTSCRIPT

I also think Dr. King would have the following message for us today.

I am heartened by the extent to which there is a wave of political engagement by people who never thought of themselves as activists.  But I am also saddened by the money and energy that is being expended to address injustice instead of being used to make a real difference in people’s lives.  I would prefer if the hours spent writing letters and sitting in congressional offices were instead being used to build one more Habitat for Humanity house or tutoring a struggling student.  I would prefer if the dollars spent by people like Tom Steyers were channeled to scholarships and health clinics., not a campaign to impeach a president.  A just and compassionate society is not defined by telling people what they need to do, it is measured by what people do for each other.

For what it’s worth.
Dr. ESP