Greetings to the members of the Women's Caucus of DA France.
Florida’s Board of Education’s latest guidelines for its Black History Curriculum is an offense to the African American community. Texas A&M’s hiring and subsequent ouster of Dr. Katherine McElroy an African American woman, as professor in the Department of Communication and Journalism is an attack against both her race and gender according to Dr. McElroy.
We are speaking out against these latest attacks on democracy. Civil rights, women’s rights, diversity, inclusion, and equity, affirmative action, education – human rights - are being destroyed.
Our voice is our power. Following are statements from the Women’s Caucus France, on Florida’s Board of Education, and Texas A&M.
Women’s Caucus Issues Statement on Florida's Board of Education’s New Guidelines for Black History Curriculum
Paris, France, July 23, 2023 - The Democrats Abroad France (DAF) Women’s Caucus has issued the following statement regarding the Florida State Board of Education’s new standards for Black history curriculum:
The DAF Women’s Caucus condemns any school curriculum under the Florida State Board of Education that suggests Africans Americans benefited from slavery. This revisionist telling of American history is an attempt to minimize the darkest chapter in our nation's history. DAF Women’s Caucus is calling for the Florida State Board of Education to immediately reverse its decision and end this attack on African American history.
Women’s Caucus Issues Statement on Texas A&M backtracking on hiring Dr. Kathleen McElroy
Paris, France, July 23, 2023 - The Democrats Abroad France (DAF) Women’s Caucus has issued the following statement condemning Texas A&M’s backtracking on hiring African American professor and journalist Dr. Kathleen O. McElroy:
We join the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression, and Texas A&M Faculty Senate in condemning university president M. Katherine Banks and Texas A&M system chancellor John Sharp and the university’s executive committee for its blatant mistreatment of Dr. McElroy, and the attack on Diversity Equity and Inclusion hiring (DEI).
One month after signing an agreement with Dr. McElroy for the job as a tenured professor in the Department of Communication and Journalism the school rescinded and revised the offer to a five-year contract position without tenure. But that agreement was also rescinded and a third offer for a one-year contract, stating termination at any time, was rejected by Dr. McElroy. McElroy. Interim Director Bermúdez told her university leaders pressured him to fire her over “DEI hysteria” surrounding her appointment.
Dr. McElroy is a 1981 Texas A&M graduate, served as director of the University of Texas at Austin’s School of Journalism and worked 20 years for the New York Times. McElroy, an African American woman is a native of Houston’s Third Ward. Her father, George A. McElroy, was a pioneering Black journalist. McElroy says she feels damaged by the experience and that she has been judged for race and gender.
The DAF Women’s Caucus condemns the discriminatory treatment of Dr. McElroy as an African American women, and the attack on DEI programs designed to promote the equal access, opportunity, employment, and sense of belonging of underrepresented people in the workplace.
Stay tuned for our upcoming events. We are in the process of planning a series of Zoom events with very special guest speakers. Look for our schedule this fall after rentrée.