A new book being distributed throughout New York City schools teaches children as young as 2-years-old blames racism and the concept of race on white people.
The New York Post reported that the book “Our Skin,” which was written by Harlem activist Megan Madison and Brooklynite library worker Jessica Ralli, teaches children that the concept of race was created by white people who claimed they were “better, smarter, prettier, and that they deserve more than everybody else.”
The book begins with a discussion of skin tones and then shows an illustration of human skulls encased in glass, sitting on shelves along with an elaborate theory that blames white people for creating the concept of race.
The book states, “A long time ago, way before you were born, a group of white people made up an idea called race. They sorted people by skin color and said that white people were better, smarter, prettier, and that they deserve more than everybody else.”
The book goes on to say “That isn’t true or fair at all” while showing an illustration of a “Caucasian” man holding up the “most beautiful skull.”
The book is written for children ages 2 to 5. It has been distributed to at least one kindergarten on Staten Island, a primary school in Brooklyn, and it appears to be included in New York City’s Department of Education’s new “Universal Mosaic Curriculum.”
The “Universal Mosaic Curriculum” was announced under former Mayor Bill de Blasio as a way to standardize instructional materials and “better reflect” the school system’s demographics. The curriculum is expected to begin in 2023.
The book is reportedly on a list of suggested reading that parents can access online and is part of the “Universal Mosaic Independent Reading Collections” for kindergartners created by the DOE’s Library Services.
Vito LaBella, a parent leader in Brooklyn, called the book “inflammatory.”
Referring to a page in the book that showed people being sorted by their skin tone, he said, “That page alone in my mind is just preaching hate.”
LaBella said that at least one school in southwest Brooklyn’s District 20, where he serves on the Community Education Council, received copies of “Our Skin.” Reportedly, the principal had been informed by another school administrator that the books would be coming and that they should be delivered to kindergarten classrooms.
LaBella said, “There were no instructions or curriculum guide with [the books].”