BOE member’s ‘white supremacy’ tweet draws response from NC superintendent

CHARLOTTE — NC Board of Education member James Ford has drawn public attention after he tweeted about swing voters and compared them to white supremacists.

Ford tweeted on Monday about the Democratic National Convention, saying: “Still playing to ‘swing voters’ aka ‘white moderates’ aka ‘white supremacy.’”

Feeling pretty despondent. Forgive the language, but I’m not watching this sh*t. I’ll do my job on Nov. 3rd, but a few mins in, it’s clear the @DNC have no idea what time it is...NONE! Still playing to “swing voters” aka “white moderates” aka “white supremacy”. Def. of insanity
— James E. Ford (@JEFordNCTOY) August 18, 2020

Ford was named North Carolina’s 2014/2015 Teacher of the Year. He is also the executive director of the Center for Racial Equity in Education (CREED).

North Carolina’s education superintendent Mark Johnson questioned Ford’s ability to lead the board’s Strategic Planning Committee in a statement released on Thursday.

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Superintendent Johnson’s full statement:

“Dear Mr. Ford,

“Earlier this week, in summarizing your disappointment with the Democratic Party, you indicated that you believe “swing voters” and “white moderates” equate to “white supremacy.”

“While “swing voters” might not share your political views, they do share our desires for positive changes for our communities and schools.

“Many of these centrists have other titles, too, like educators or parents.

“In appointing you to the North Carolina Board of Education, Governor Roy Cooper has tasked you to represent all North Carolinians without bias.

“Given your leadership role on the State Board, while you might not find the current Democratic Party leadership to be very inspiring, it is unacceptable to equate middle-of-the-road North Carolinians to being racists.

“Chairman Eric Davis appointed you to lead the State Board’s Strategic Planning Committee, the very committee charged with drafting a framework of action to improve opportunities and equity for all students and educators.

“How can you continue to serve in this role when you have equated a large group of sensible constituents to racists? Your actions have called into question your ability to continue to lead this committee and to serve on the State Board of Education.

“But America is a land of second chances. If you can provide adequate assurances that your radical views will not impair your ability to serve in an unbiased manner, I’ll defer to Governor Cooper, who appointed you to the State Board, and Chairman Davis, who placed you in your leadership role. If you cannot, you should at the very least resign from the Strategic Planning Committee.

“DPI and the State Board face many challenges moving forward, and your inflammatory rhetoric harms our mission to provide a sound, basic education to all students.”