On today's edition of Bring It On!, host Clarence Boone spends the hour with Jim Sims, Dr. Charlie Nelms, and Dr. Gloria Howell to shed light on the continuing controversy surrounding Indiana Lt. Gov. Micah Beckwith and offer their perspectives on what the political and educational horizon looks like in Indiana.



On Monday, May 19, Lt. Governor Micah Beckwith faced tough questions on race and education during an Ellettsville town hall. According to Ethan Sandweiss of Indiana Public Media, Beckwith met with some of his most dissatisfied constituents. An hour before the meeting, opponents had already showed up in force. Clergy, activists, and elected officials arranged a 'Rally against Racism' protest against Beckwith’s controversial defense of the three-fifths compromise.

Indiana Lt. Governor Micah Beckwith

Beckwith had contradicted mainstream historians, arguing that the 18th-century agreement to count enslaved Black people as three-fifths of a person when determining the number of seats in Congress was intended to limit the power of slaveholding states. Bring it On! had addressed this erroneous view during our May 5th broadcast.

President of the Monroe County NAACP, Jim Sims, was not buying Beckwith’s explanation but said it’s not from the lieutenant governor that he’s asking for accountability. “I think Beckwith has shown his true character. Now, just as importantly, I wonder as I'm sure you do too, why hasn't Governor Braun denounced his lieutenant governor's attempt to distort this historical narrative?” Braun appeared to rebuke Beckwith for his comments in April, but Sims believes his response was insufficient.

Also, it should be noted that on May 22, Indiana University announced that:
"To further ensure compliance with state and federal guidance, the Office of the Vice President for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion will sunset, effective today. The university is also directing campuses, schools and units to take necessary steps to ensure compliance with state and federal policies and guidance. Finally, the Office of Institutional Equity has transitioned to become the Office of Civil Rights Compliance, which more accurately reflects its work and mission to oversee the university’s compliance with federal civil rights laws."

Because “Silence is not an Option!” on tonight's edition of Bring It On!, we are here for a discussion on the DEI dismantling efforts in Indiana and the Nation.



Credits:
Today’s host is Clarence Boone.
Our show’s executive producer is Clarence Boone.
Our consultant and WFHB News Department Director is Kade Young.
Our program engineer is Chantalle LaFontant.
Our original theme music was created by Jamyl Efiom, with additional background tracks by David Baker.