For Rochester schools’ diversity vendors, equity is good business

Carol Beth Litkouhi is suing the Rochester Community School District because the district has not turned over materials she requested through a Freedom of Information Act request. Litkouhi is represented by the Mackinac Center Legal Foundation.

The district has cited the copyrighted nature of the materials as a reason to deny the request. It did, however, disclose a list of authors after Litkouhi filed suit.

One of the authors, Robin DiAngelo, is a popular writer in the field of diversity, equity and inclusion.

DiAngelo is best known for her book “White Fragility.” In it, she writes, “All white people are invested in and collude with racism” and “socialized into a deeply internalized sense of superiority that we either are unaware of or can never admit to ourselves, we become highly fragile in conversations about race.”

DiAngelo says white supremacy is “the bedrock of our society and institutions.” She earns $728,000 per year and $14,000 per speech, according to the Daily Mail. That’s about 11 times the median income in America, $65,000 per year.

Zaretta Hammond, another author of items used in the school district, wrote “Culturally Responsive Teaching and The Brain: Promoting Authentic Engagement and Rigor Among Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Students.” She makes $20,000 to $30,000 for each speaking engagement, according to AAE Speakers.

Glen E. Singleton is the author of “Courageous Conversations About Race: A Field Guide for Achieving Equity in Schools” as well as “MORE Courageous Conversations About Race.” Singleton makes $30,000 to $55,000 in speaking fees for each evnt, according to AAE Speakers Bureau.

Ron McMillan is the author of the New York Times best-seller “Crucial Conversations: Tools for Talking When Stakes are High.” As a speaker, he earns $30,000 to $50,000 per speaking engagement, according to All American Speakers.

Al Switzler, who wrote “Crucial Conversations” with McMillan and others, makes $20,000 to $30,000 per speaking engagement, according to All American Speakers.

Michigan Capitol Confidential does not know if the Rochester school district has hired any of the authors, either as a consultant or a speaker. The school board did not respond to a request for comment.