A Tennessee high school principal has apologized for marking Black History Month with an All Lives Matter theme. <a href="https://edition.cnn.com/2021/02/02/us/tennessee-principal-all-lives-matter-trnd/index.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">CNN</a> reports that the East Ridge Middle School teacher in Chatanooga made the controversial announcement in a weekly newsletter issued on Sunday, January 31. [[twitterwidget||https://twitter.com/TuckerMcClendon/status/1356363447689228289]] The move was met with a significant backlash from parents in the school district, who were outraged over the theme. Per <a href="https://newschannel9.com/news/local/east-ridge-principal-to-apologize-after-black-history-month-theme-of-all-lives-matter" target="_blank" rel="noopener">ABC News 9</a>, Principal Christy Caldwell Drake issued a contrite statement delivered on the evening of Monday, February 1, explaining that the concept for the seditious theme was based around a mural on the school site. [[twitterwidget||https://twitter.com/MeredithAWRCB/status/1356409149429547008]] Drake stated: <blockquote>"Yesterday, I sent the regular newsletter providing updates to our families as we return to in-person learning this week. As part of that newsletter, I highlighted February as Black History Month with a theme of 'All Lives Matter.' "I want to apologize for not more fully considering the context of that theme, as my inspiration for it was taken from a mural within our school that states: 'Where Every Child Matters.' "As a black woman in leadership, I embrace civil rights, Black History Month, and the sacrifices that have been made by those who came before me. I hope that my students, many of whom look like me, believe in the possibilities of their unlimited potential.</blockquote> [[twitterwidget||https://twitter.com/TheTNHoller/status/1356360623496556546]] Drake continued: <blockquote>"My father, Dr. Virgil J. Caldwell, was a local pastor and Civil Rights leader. I had the opportunity to experience firsthand the fight for equality. "Additionally, both of my parents were educators, so I learned at a young age the importance of access to high-quality education. "I firmly believe that every child that walks through the doors of East Ridge Middle School matters, and my heart was to emphasize how important each one of our students are to me."</blockquote> [[twitterwidget||https://twitter.com/TuckerMcClendon/status/1356363447689228289]] However, some parents remained less-than-impressed. For instance, per <a href="https://www.wrcbtv.com/story/43272912/east-ridge-middle-principal-apologizes-after-declaring-all-lives-matter-theme-for-black-history-month" target="_blank" rel="noopener">WRCB,</a> mom Jessica Arnold stated: "It's a good intention, maybe, like they're trying to let all of the kids know that they all matter. "But in light of this movement, they're excluding an entire population of their own school. It's even sadder to me that she's being willfully ignorant about it. "I want her to be better. I don't want her to be the same as we've always been. That's the point. We can't change things until we educate our children. The next generation is going to be the ones to change things." The phrase "all lives matter" is a controversial slogan that' been used to belittle and counteract the Black Lives Matter movement – a campaign calling for the end of systematic racism. During an interview with the <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/06/10/upshot/black-lives-matter-attitudes.html">New York Times</a>, African-American Studies at Princeton University Keeanga-Yamahtta Taylor explained the issue is that it's "always been an assumption" that all lives matter. However, statistics would indicate otherwise. Per the <a href="https://www.standard.co.uk/news/world/why-shouldnt-say-all-lives-matter-a4456686.html">Evening Standard</a>, a study revealed a stark contrast in the risk of death at the hands of police in the US for white people compared to black. The research showed that 7.2 African Americans per million died while in police custody in comparison to 2.9 million white Americans. Taylor commented: "The entire point of Black Lives Matter is to illustrate the extent to which black lives have not mattered in this country."

Tennessee principal apologizes for announcing school would mark Black History Month with 'All Lives Matter' theme

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