“We weren’t in the media last time,” said Sanders. “We weren’t in the media news last time because the powers that be don’t want folks to come to the meeting.
“I’m excluding you, Mr. Lucas and Mr. Jackson,” she said. “I’m talking about the people that work behind the scenes that have their little puppets. However, I’ll move on. I have so much to talk about so I’ll get back to the matter at hand.”
As Sanders went further into her speech, she explained to the board how she believes “separate but equal” negatively impacts students in the Cleveland School District.
“... Brown vs. Board of Education declared separate but equal was unconstitutional,” she said. “... Separate but equal would have a lasting impact on black and white children that might ever be undone.
“Yet, here we are,” said Sanders. “School districts were ordered to meet the requirements of the law and here we are dragging our feet.”
Sanders recalled a statement she read stating, “You’re gonna have to drag Mississippi screaming and kicking to get them to do right. Separate but equal has had an impact on us.
“Have you ever talked to the students at East Side?” she asked the board. “I heard teachers say they’ve been told by some of their students that the teachers at Cleveland High and on the west are better than folks on the east.
“We have children on the east going to Cleveland High because they say they have better teachers and equipment,” said Sanders. “You see what (separate but equal) does to a child.”
Sanders went on to recall the recommendations given to the district by a group that came into the district during Reggie Barnes’ administration for an evaluation.
“They gave out several recommendations,” she said. “One was that they said it was an abomination to send children to Nailor. I’m paraphrasing now but what they said was to that effect.
“Their recommendations were basically that it would be in the best interest for this school district to consolidate,” said Sanders. “And we paid them to tell us that and didn’t listen to them.
“You all have to get some backbone and stand up and make the right decision,” she said. “It might not be what people are telling y’all to do but as the school board you all have to do the right thing and move beyond the status quo.
“As the board’s attorney has said, the constitution means what it means whether you like it or not,” said Sanders, referring to a statement Jamie Jacks made during a public hearing about “The law is the law whether you like it or not” regarding a legal matter during that time. “If you want to return to pre Brown vs. Board of Education, then you fight for that but the concerned citizens and parents will continue to put pressure on this board.
“Separate but equal was never equal,” she said. “It has not been and never will be.”