Education

D.C. Public School Librarians Eyeing Book Bans Across America

Sam P.K. Collins WI Staff Writer

National Library Week took place earlier this month amid efforts by parents and state legislatures across the country to ban books from school libraries. In the District, public school librarians continue to organize for their permanent inclusion in DC Public Schools [DCPS]’ budget while learning more about how to circumvent similar situations.

However some librarians, like K.C. Boyd, say parents and community members have been supportive of efforts to foster students’ self-expression and facilitate their exposure to texts of various perspectives.

Boyd described the situation at her Ward 6 school as vastly different from what her colleagues in South Carolina and Louisiana have experienced.

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5 K.C. Boyd, D.C. librarian. (Courtesy photo)

“When you get into the business of telling a child they can’t read a particular book, you’re focusing on the negative and blocking them from accessing books that affirm their culture, race and identity,” said Boyd, who was recently chosen School Librarian of the Year.

“It hurts Black, brown and LBGTQ kids, more than their counterparts,” Boyd said. “School librarians have to be more on the political side and conscious about what’s going on in society. I explained to my staff that book banning is a serious issue and censorship. School librarians across the country have been threatened by job loss and harassed by various advocacy groups.”

AN EVOLVING NATIONAL ISSUE

As of April 12, Texas, Pennsylvania, Florida, Oklahoma, Kansas and Indiana count among the states with the most banned books. Texas has banned more than 700 books, while Pennsylvania has done so for 400 and Florida for nearly 300.

Within the last three years, as far back as DCPS central office records go, the DCPS Materials Evaluation Committee has not removed any books from public school libraries.

During a recent hearing held by the House Oversight and Reform Subcommittee on Civil Rights and Civil Liberties, public witnesses described the books that have been targeted as books of choice not often included on school curricula. Parents and organizations with certain political leanings have focused on books addressing racism and the system of white supremacy. Other reasons center on the author or protagonist’s race and gender identity.

In situations where community members challenge the inclusion of a book in a school library, the American Library Association [ALA]’s reconsideration process mandates the creation of a review committee that addresses complaints with the goal of defending intellectual freedom and freedom of information, more so than the material in question.

In an online statement, the ALA said reconsideration committee members are asked to set aside their personal beliefs, read the book that brought on the complaint and review the library’s mission statement and reconsideration policies, among other documents. During the reconsideration process, books are not removed from the stacks.

Dr. Kevin Washburn, DCPS’ director of library programs, said school librarians select book titles and resources that align with the DCPS curriculum, have undergone at least one strong professional review and meet the standards of what has been recommended by students, teachers and parents.

The library programs’ selection and reconsideration procedures, Washburn said, align with standards outlined by ALA.

Washburn said he supports a philosophy centered on bringing joy to learning, challenging misinformation and equipping students with the skills needed to validate sources, ask critical questions and engage in the learning process.

Access to a wide variety of books, he asserted, ensures the fulfillment of that goal.

“School libraries must be the gateway to the universe of knowledge free of political agendas, limitations to free speech, or other barriers,” Washburn said. “DCPS believes that school libraries and librarians are an essential component for all schools. Supporting an informed and engaged community on the assets and attributes of our school libraries enables everyone to be part of our district mission and vision.”

A BOOK GIVEAWAY AND CALL TO ACTION

Last weekend, the American Federation of Teachers [AFT] hosted a book giveaway at the Washington Tennis & Education Foundation in Southeast that attracted students, families and educators from Ward 7 and 8.

During what was called the “Reading Opens the World Book Palooza & Community Fair,” families had the opportunity to take five books home while educators and organizations had access to 30 books. In total, AFT had 40,000 books on hand during the afternoon of April 9.

While reflecting on the event, Washington Teachers’ Union President Jacqueline Pogue Lyons not only thanked school librarians for the part they play in boosting literacy among young people but explained the significance of the Reading Opens the World campaign in the current political atmosphere.

“As a teacher of 28 years, I’ve always tipped my hat to our librarians who not only foster a love of reading in our kids but can guide them to the best sources of knowledge and adventure. But we cannot leave all the heavy lifting to our librarians,” Lyons said.

“Not while we see a disturbing number of schools banning books from classrooms. The Reading Opens the World campaign can fill in that gap, ensuring our kids, our stories and our history are not left out of the discussion,” Lyons added.

WI @SamPKCollins

Mortgage Lending Disparities Limit the Rate of Black Homeownership in D.C.

Antoine M. Thompson

5 Antoine M. Thompson

The road to financial power and prosperity is paved with homeownership. Nationally, over 70% of Black wealth is tied to

homeownership.

In 2020, after the death of George Floyd, there were months of protests in D.C. and across the country. The protests also fostered conversations around the connections between issues of policing and economics, education, housing, and equity more common. Americans of all races began to demand that the institutions with which they spent money and did business go on record with their commitment to racial justice.

While justice in the courts became a rallying cry against police misconduct and brutality, the fight for racial equity policies further took on a renewed purpose.

Unfortunately, two years later, these investments have done little to move the needle for the rate of homeownership for Black Washingtonians.

HOMEOWNERSHIP GAP PERSISTS

According to census data from Prosperity Now, the Black homeownership rate in D.C. is 35.2% compared to the White homeownership rate of 50.3%. This is a stark contrast to the neighboring Black communities in Prince George’s County, Maryland, where the rate of Black homeownership sits at 61.1%. Because of these vast disparities in homeownership, Black households in D.C. are three times more likely to have zero wealth.

SUCCEEDING A GAINST THE ODDS

5 Jamal and Ashley Smith (homebuyers) and Lledon Stokes (Real Estate Agent) (Photo by Antoine M. Thompson) 4 Lindsay McFarlane (homebuyer) and Lledon Stokes (Realtor) (Photo by Antoine M. Thompson)

BLACK HOMEBUYERS TWICE AS LIKELY TO BE DENIED MORTGAGES IN D.C.

In 2020, a review of data from the federal Home Mortgage Disclosure Act provided by Virginia-based Compliance Tech, shows that approximately 32,238loan applications were made or originatedby mortgage lenders in D.C. Lending by race, Whites were approved for 16,227mortgages compared to 4,945for Blacks in the District of Columbia.

“The data states that Black homebuyerswere denied mortgage loans at 2.7times the rate of white homebuyers (20.86% Black vs.7.6% white),” stated Maurice Jourdain-Earl, managing director of Compliance Tech.

Despite historical discriminatory mortgage lending practices and rising home prices, government leaders, nonprofit organizations, real estate agents and brokers continue to work hard to create more new Black homeowners in the District of Columbia.

Lledon Stokes, a real estate agent with Sotheby’s Realty, describes the situation.

“In 2021, I was able to help nine Black families achieve the dream of homeownership in D.C.,” Stokes said. “I pride myself on knowing other agents, good negotiating skills, and preparing my clients for homeownership.”

RACIAL DISPARITIES IN LENDING CHART FOR WASHINGTON, D.C., 2020

Stokes helped Lindsay McFarlane, a native of Nashville, Tennessee, purchase a condo in Southeast D.C.

“Ever since I was younger and we came to D.C. on a family trip, I told my dad that we had to live here,” McFarlane said. “After graduate school, I moved to the District and rented various apartments in different parts of the city but I didn’t feel complete until I bought my first house.” For many potential Black homeowners, their first hurdle remains getting approved for a mortgage followed by successfully making an offer for a home. McFarlane was fortunate when purchasing her home.

“We were the first people to see the property, my agent Lledon was definitely a shark, we put in an offer the same day and I was able to buy a piece of heaven in D.C.,” McFarlane said.

Newlyweds Ashley and Jamaal Smith recently bought a new home in D.C.’s Brookland neighborhood. Jamaal a native of New Jersey, and Ashley, born in the District, decided to buy in D.C. because they love the sense of community and the neighborhood feel.

“Properties are appreciating and things are close by,” Ashley said. Her husband added, “We love being able to walk to restaurants, stores, the gym, and the park.”

BUILD A GREAT TEAM WHEN BUYING A HOME IN D.C.

A common theme for homeownership goals: preparation. Anyone thinking of buying a home should check their credit, read up on D.C. homebuyer grants and assistance programs, take a HUD-approved homebuying class, identify a very good licensed real estate agent and secure a mortgage lender whom they can trust.

“The mortgage process was interesting because my bank would not give me a mortgage at a good rate and they were cumbersome to deal with, so I had to go to a private mortgage company,” McFarlane said.

A good team can make a world of a difference when buying a home.

A MESSAGE FOR POLICY MAKERS AND HOMEBUYERS

Historical discriminatory lending patterns, limited housing inventory, and rising housing prices put Black homebuyers at disadvantage. Tracking mortgage data is the key to advancing and measuring the success of strategies and programs to close theracial homeownership gaps in the District of Columbia.

Fortunately, mortgage lending trends are published annually by the federal government. In addition, elected officials, advocacy organizations, and regulatory agencies should be publicly discussing the shortcomings.

McFarlane’s advice is, “Plan, stack your money, figure out where you want to live and become uncompromising about it. Personally, it feels good to have a place in D.C. that I know is mine.”

Antoine M. Thompson is a housing policy expert, real estate agent with MMB Realty Group and the former national executive director of the National Association of Real Estate Brokers (NAREB).

EDUCATION

Local Gymnast Khoi Alexander Young Soars In and Out of the Gym

William J. Ford WI Staff Writer

Khoi Alexander Young likes a challenge.

The 19-year-old Prince George’s County native from Bowie chose gymnastics not only for its competitive nature and grueling practices but also because not many African-American boys participate in the sport.

Gymnastics led to another difficult test: admittance into Stanford University in California, which according to Best Colleges ranks as the second-hardest college to get in nationwide with a 3.9% acceptance rate.

Young will complete his freshman year in June at the private institution in Northern California where he plans to major in management science and engineering. The major requires taking computer science courses in which he has no interest.

“But I will now. I always look for the most difficult thing that I could achieve,” Young said in an interview April 1. “It keeps me very focused.”

He admits adjusting to college life more than 3,000 miles away from home hasn’t been easy but he talks with his parents once a week, usually on Sundays when he doesn’t have practice.

He’s already achieved exemplary accomplishments on Stanford’s men’s gymnastics and U.S. national teams that include:

Two-time national Rookie of the Week in February.

Mountain Pacific Sports Federation [MPSF] gymnast of the week in February.

Second and third place finishes in international competition in March in Stuttgart, Germany.

Young recently contributed to Stanford’s victory in the school’s first MPSF men’s championship since 2011. Young recorded a top score of 14.600 to win the pommel horse event.

He will compete in the NCAA championships April 15 and 16 in Norman, Oklahoma, where Stanford seeks a third straight NCAA title.

But there’s still one element missing during most competitions: Black male gymnasts.

A December NCAA report reveals that out of 307 men gymnasts enrolled in predominantly white institutions [PWI] last year, Blacks accounted for 18, or 6%. Approximately 94 identified themselves as “other” and 195 white male gymnasts participated in the sport.

In comparison from 2020, approximately 23 Black male gymnasts participated in the sport at PWIs. Another 109 identified as “other” and 188 as white male gymnasts.

The sport had only one Black male head coach and two Black male assistant coaches last year.

Fisk University in Nashville announced in February it will launch a women’s gymnastics program, making it the first historically Black college and university to do so.

“Most [of the Blacks] I see and know are from the DMV area,” Young said. “I’m the only one on my team and about one or two I may see throughout the NCAA competition.”

He says that’s motivation to inspire other Black youth to the sport like his former teammates with Sportsplex Gymnastics at the Wayne K. Curry Sports and Learning Complex in Landover.

“I feel like I could be a catalyst for younger gymnasts to be a part of this sport,” he said. “I believe I have already inspired the guys back home to achieve the same thing.”

Although Young sacrificed social events with friends at Bowie High School to practice 20 hours per week, gymnastics allowed him to travel. In 2019, he won a spot with three U.S. men gymnasts to participate in Hungary in the world junior championship.

Sportsplex Gymnastics men’s head coach Robert Lundy admired

CENTER from Page 22

have cancer. It’s hard. But with a cancer center [employing] the best and the brightest working, it does give hope to many people.”

One of those specialty doctors who’ll work at the center, Dr. Melissa Ann Liriana Vyfhuis, said it’s also personal for her as a Prince George’s native. Before becoming a radiation oncologist, she worked her first job at the former Landover Mall site located just a few miles from the hospital.

Vyfhuis’ family still resides in the county: her parents in Capitol Heights, sister in Suitland, in-laws in Lanham and her children, nieces and nephews all enrolled in the county’s public schools.

“My community has given me so much that I am truly joyful to be given an opportunity to now serve through excellent cancer care,” said Vyfhuis, a visiting assistant professor at the University of Maryland School of Medicine.

A major boost to construct the center will be $67 million in state funding – part of a “Maryland Cancer Moonshot Initiative” aimed at accelerating cancer screening, prevention and treatment.

The $216 million program includes $100 million to expand the University of Maryland Greenbaum Comprehensive Cancer Center in downtown Baltimore; $25 million for cancer research projects for the University of Maryland School of Medicine and Johns Hopkins University; and $20.5 million in stem cell research for regenerative medicine projects and groundbreaking treatments.

“This is very near and dear to my heart because I know how difficult it is to get that life altering diagnosis and to experience that feeling of not knowing what comes next,” said Gov. Larry Hogan, a cancer survivor who grew up in Prince George’s. “With the completion of this new cancer center . . . [residents] will be able to receive the high-quality cancer treatment and medical care that they deserve.”

Dr. Mohan Suntha, an oncologist and president and CEO of the University of Maryland Medical System, said an estimated 100 full-time employees would work at the center with the potential

5 Khoi Alexander Young. (Photo courtesy M-NCPPC) Young’s work ethic and desire when Lundy became coach at least 10 years ago.

“His personality is great. He is a hard worker. Being able to focus is the most challenging thing in this sport,” Lundy said. “His ability to come up with a plan, stick with a plan and make that plan come true

to increase that number based on the needs of the county’s ever-increasing population of nearly one million.

He said the hospital’s location also helps patients, especially with Largo Town Center Metrorail station nearby and availability of bus service, to combat one of the world’s most dreaded diseases.

“As a cancer doctor, think about the anxiety associated with a diagnosis like cancer,” Suntha said. “Think about the idea of being able to get your high-quality health care access closer to home. It benefits you as the patient, benefits your family, benefits your children. There is just a halo effect that comes with proximity.”

WI @WJFjabariwill is a testament to his abilities. He had that determination early on.”

Lundy, who’s Black and coached gymnastics for about 35 years, said a few of the detriments in seeing more young Black male gymnasts are cultural with many youths choosing basketball, football and track and field. There are also gender stereotypes, he said, which allude to gymnastics being strictly for girls and women.

Further, the costs to participate aren’t cheap. Registration fees to enroll youth for at least eight weeks of gymnastics classes this spring through the county’s Department of Parks and Recreation start at $160.

The price doesn’t include leotards, workout gear and any necessary training equipment. If participating on a team, the cost could be higher.

“I repeat several times to parents, ‘This is going to be expensive,’” Lundy said. “My job here is to help [athletes] go as far as they want to go. Our facility has all the training for athletes to excel. You can succeed in and from this sport.” WI @WJFjabariwill