The death of Tyre Nichols in Memphis at the hands of police officers and recent protests around a proposed police training center in Atlanta have grabbed national headlines recently, raising questions about race and power.
Georgia teachers, who want to discuss current events like these with their students, have to do so within the confines of a new law. The so-called “Divisive Concepts” law bans teachers from discussing nine topics related to race.
They include: not teaching that one race is superior to another and teaching that the U.S. is a fundamentally racist country. Critics have said that the law’s language is so vague that it could have a “chill effect,” meaning teachers will avoid any conversation around race for fear of breaking the law. The law’s supporters say it shouldn’t interfere with the accurate teaching of history. Rep. Will Wade, R-Dawsonville, sponsored the bill in the House last year.
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