Former First Lady Michelle Obama‘s brother Craig Robinson and his wife Kelly are waging war against a private school in Milwaukee for kicking out their sons on the basis of racial bias.
Craig and Kelly have sued the school, University School of Milwaukee, a prestigious private school, for racial discrimination and breach of contract.
Michelle Obama’s Brother Sues Private School For Racism
Per “Good Morning America,” the in-laws of former President Barack Obama accused the administrators of booting their sons out of the school in retaliation after Craig and Kelly complained about racial discrimination.
The Robinsons allege that the Pre-K through 12 school hatched up a revenge plan following two complaints made against the institution about “racial and ethnic stereotypes” observed in their children’s assignment during virtual learning amid the pandemic.
While speaking to Robin Roberts of “GMA,” the couple shared that it happened when they overheard their sons’ assignment during virtual learning. When asked by the host what specific stereotypes were observed, Craig said,
This all started as a lot of parents… we heard what was going on in the classroom because of COVID, and there were repeated use of racial and ethnic stereotypes that were in actual assignments. The use of the word plantation and things of that nature.
Robinson, the current executive director of the National Association of Basketball Coaches, explained that he and Kelly also witnessed “an insensitivity to socioeconomic status as well as a disregard for the children who weren’t physically in the classroom.”
The Illinois native shared that upon making the observations, he decided to have a communication with the school and offer some suggestions. Unfortunately, after having the discussions and some “back and forth,” Craig shared that their children were summarily dismissed from the school with the administration “retaliating against them [the kids] because of the issues we brought up.”
Per the publication, The Robinsons filed separate reports in January and March 2021 to discuss their concerns, exchanging emails with the school authorities when they were met with shocking news on April 14, 2021.
First, their fifth-grader was dismissed that month, and later on June 21, 2012, their third-grader was expelled. The termination letter from the school alleged that Craig and Kelly “repeatedly engaged in disrespectful and demanding communications with and about our teachers and administrators.”
The prestigious academy declared that it was evident that The Robinsons’ trust in the school was completely broken down, and there was no way they could go forward. The boys expelled were just 11 and nine of age and were “model students and portraits of a graduate,” according to the school’s administrators.
The School Responds To Discrimination Lawsuit
In a lengthy statement shared on Twitter, USM has now responded to the Robinsons’ lawsuit, defending their decision to boot the kids out as a last resort.
They shared that they couldn’t fully comment on the case pending litigation. However, “we can tell you that the USM’s enrollment decisions had nothing to do with complaints of inequity or discrimination, and we intend to vigorously defend the school against any claim to the contrary.
“We heard what was going on because of COVID. There were repeated use of racial and ethnic use of stereotypes that were in actual assignments…”
Craig Robinson talks about his and his wife’s lawsuit against children’s former school. https://t.co/jFKtpRGqkD pic.twitter.com/dr8clDSO6U
— Good Morning America (@GMA) April 19, 2022
USM continues, declaring that they wouldn’t “tolerate persistently disrespectful, bullying, or harassing behavior directed at our devoted and hardworking teachers and administrators. Such conduct that makes faculty feel unsafe not only violates our Common Trust pledge and Parent-School Partnership but also interferes with USM’s operations.”
The strongly-worded statement insinuated that Craig and Kelly’s “parental conduct threatened the educational environment created,” and as a result, they had no choice but to take action.
The prestigious school reiterated its values of diversity, justice, equity, and inclusion in the concluding paragraph. “We embrace diversity in all its forms,” USM declared.
