Staten Island Assistant Principal Being Probed Over Her “What Is Privilege?” Facebook Post
When you work as an educator, there is no question that you quickly realize that you live in a glass house. Your every move is scrutinized, and it doesn’t necessarily matter whether you meant well with your actions or not. Indeed, even on social media, there are some who will take just about any chance they can to negatively portray you as being racist. Such is the environment that we are living in today.
Take the case of Staten Island assistant principal Deborah Morse-Cunningham. She recently made a Facebook post called “what is privilege” and frankly, it went over like a led balloon with some people. Let’s just cut to the chase here: because of a “concerned parent”, this educator is now being accused of being racist.
In Morse-Cunningham’s post, she mused on “what is privilege” and she questioned how those who are “living on public assistance can afford to wear $200 sneakers.” She also said she was curious how some people were able to use “$300 Beats headphones even though they were supposed to be on public assistance.”
Morse-Cunningham also wrote that “Privilege is when you live in public housing, but you don’t have to pay a water bill. Privilege is when you don’t have to worry about rising property taxes, an increase in your rent, or higher energy costs because they don’t have any effect whatsoever on your ability to put food on the table.”
This is when the “concerned parent” saw this post and started an online petition to have More-Cunningham’s employment terminated. Her assistant principal position comes with a salary of upwards of $130,000 per year.
The creator of the petition called out Morse-Cunningham for her “vicious stereotypes”, “racial profiling”, and abusive rhetoric that was “directed at people of Color.”
“As an individual responsible for the tutelage of our young people, this rhetoric is especially troubling and problematic to say the least,” the creator of the petition said, and she called the online statement simply “anti-black.”
“This makes me want to question just what type of day-to-day practices this person has instilled in the culture of New Dorp High School,” the petitioner said. “What kind of environment are our children learning in? What about our Black youth?” the petitioner adds.
New Dorp High School has a minority enrollment of 49 percent. However, at least 60 percent of the school’s student body are economically disadvantaged, per a report in U.S. News and World Report.
The New York City DOE wrote a statement regarding Morse-Cunningham’s post. They noted that the post had now been reported for investigation.
“The New York City DOE will always stand against racism. We believe schools should be safe and inclusive educational environments,” press secretary Miranda Barbot told the New York Post.
“Teachers and staff at every school are obligated to promote these values, and it was the principal of New Dorp High School who reported this social media incident for further investigation,” Barbot added.
On early Monday morning, there were at least 6,145 signatures calling for Morse-Cunningham to be removed from her teaching position. As of this writing, it appears that Morse-Cunningham no longer has a Facebook page.
Did this assistant principal step over the line with her social media post? Or is this yet another example of race baiting run amok? Let us know in the comments below!
I have seen the post, and I felt it was a reasonable post in light of all of the BLM racist rhetoric. She is well within her rights to write anything she wants, and those who want her to be fired are usually racists and snowflakes who are offended by anything that does not align with their talking points. The school where she works should take any commentary from social media with a grain of salt. Most if not all of any comments are from less than reputable sources. She is a victim of the social media mob, which is no reason to lose her job. I commend her on the boldness of her truthful post, and she should be encouraged to post more of the type of commentary, because it is true.
TRUTH HURTS AND THESE RACIST WHO DON’T LIKE HER TRUTHFUL & HONEST COMMENTS…CAN’T HANDLE THE TRUTH…PERIOD AND THAT’S EXACTLY WHY WE ARE WHERE WE ARE RIGHT NOW IN RACE RELATIONS. WHEN THESE PEOPLE GET OVER THE SLAVE ISSUE, THEN MAYBE WE CAN ALL MOVE ON FOR THE BETTER. THESE PEOPLE NEED TO FIND OUT TRUE HISTORY, BUT THEN AGAIN…THEY CAN’T HANDLE THE TRUTH…
The only reactions are knee-jerks from her hitting a nerve.
all she said is low in come. she did not say black this is race baiting big time
I think she is over paid….. BUT SHE IS RIGHT… HOW THE HELL DO PEOPLE ON WELFARE WEAR $200.00 sneakers and have thinks that some working family’s can’t afford… because the working people who pay taxes support these parasites.
About time, this Lady is so right on the Mark with this statement.
Petitioner does the petitioner have a name or don’t we want to put our name out there as we take away someone’s job I know a lot of white people that have expensive shoes Beats headphones that live on the government payroll has nothing to do with color being poor is being poor and that’s a problem not a black problem the human problem problem that was brought on by a welfare state a state that made us kick men out of the household so that the family could get help from the government y’all better think about that, makes me want to puke, come on petitioner let’s see your name
I think she is 100 percent correct–what happened to free speech–and the freedom to speak without being called a racist and being run out of town.
White Privilege: The ability to suffer through life’s universal indignities without blaming another ethnic group,
Anonymous
The questions this principal asked were totally legitimate! While hard-working citizens have to pay exorbitant taxes to the city and state of New York, the so-called “economically disadvantaged” parents can afford to buy their children outrageously expensive sneakers and headphones using the welfare money that has been extorted from the taxpayer who earned it. Just another sign of the times when the Progressive Democrats rule the roost!
Like it or not, she spoke her mind.
In America, you can do that.
That is what makes America great.(it is not what she said, but the ability to say it that makes us free).
If I don’t agree with it, or like what she wrote, I can not follow her, not be around her, and not talk to her.
But, she is free to have her view, and if I don’t like it, then I am free to say what I want also.
Just remember, if I speak out against her in hate or anger, then I will also be judged.
So, where does it end?
It ends when me, you, and others understand that people can say and think what they want…
But we chose to take a higher road, and believe in each person for their character, and how they portray themselves.
Also remember, no one makes you happy–you do!
No one makes your day bad, you do.
No one takes control over your life, you do.
Or has someone already take control of your mind and made you feel in such a way as to control you?
This young lady, Deborah Morse-Cunningham, hit the nail squarely on the head. She displayed her 1st Amendment rights of Free Speech. If the truth hurts, to damn bad. If the shoe fits, wear it. It’s a shame, that only certain people, have the right to speak their mind. I, personally don’t care, I speak what’s on my mind. I’ve earned my right to Free Speech. I had 4 years serving Uncle Sam, 1969-1970, in sunny South Vietnam. My health is suffering because of my service. Do I like it, no. However, I’d do it all over again. It’s a shame, that this young woman, has to suffer harassment from people having everything handed to them on silver platter. People, GET OVER IT!!!!
Assistant principal Deborah Morse-Cunningham made a very valid point, it was not based on race. It was simply pointing out that public health was meant to be for necessities while people become self-sufficient. It is not for a way of life. I feel that taxpayers have a right to have people work to support themselves and things such as $200 sneakers are not meant to be paid for by others. We need more people stand up and say ‘enough is enough’.
Seems to me she had some valid points. This is what happens when you start attacking people…YOU get scrutinized as well. This presents a perfect opportunity for DISCUSSION. Adult to Adult. When both sides are able to speak as well as be heard, we will find that there are very few villains. We ALL need to listen twice as much as speaking. Someone once said “God gave us one mouth and TWO ears for a reason !!”
WHAT IS A PRIVILEGE ??? WELL IT MOST CERTAINLY ISN’T FOR THE WORKING CLASS WHO WORK, PAY TAXES, AND TO SERVE IN THE MILITARY IF ABLE….I CAN UNDERSTAND THE 6145 WHO SIGNED TO HAVE THIS TEACHER REMOVED AS IT WOULD HURT THEIR FREE LIVING…90% OF THIS NUMBER IS PROBABLY PROTESTERS AND RIOTERS… WHAT IS PRIVILEGE ?? PROTESTING, RIOTING, BREAKING IN TO BUILDINGS AND STEALING AND BURNING EVERYTHING IN SIGHT INCLUDING POLICE CARS AND NO ARREST… WHAT IS PRIVILEGE ????? A NON AMERICAN TEACHER WHO TEACHES KILLING AMERICANS…..DID SHE GET A RAISE ??? WHAT IS PRIVILEGE ??? FACEBOOK,,I’VE BEEN IN FACEBOOK SEG SO MANY TIMES BECAUSE MY FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHTS WERE NOT TO THEIR LIKING, SO THEY LIE TO KICK YOU OUT…SO WHAT IS PRIVILEGE ???? NEVER HAPPENED ON MY WATCH….
She was giving facts, didn’t say black or some other group, she was well in her right to call out those facts.
So since when are facts “racist”? Or are some people a might uncomfortable by what she said?
She did not say “white” privilege or “black” privilege, but noted that some on the government assistance programs wore $200 sneakers or “$300 headphones.” My kids were told I had $25 for their sneakers. If they wanted brand names, they would need to earn the money to pay for them. Same with brand name jeans. I’d pay $10 for KMart jeans. If they wanted Lee or Levi, they’d have to earn the money for them. I was not in a position to make someone else rich. Was that because they had “privilege?” I don’t think so. When my husband lost his job and was out of work for 18 months, I applied for food stamps and was treated like a lazy person who wanted to milk the system. When we were just a few dollars too rich, we were denied. When I went grocery shopping with the limited funds I had from unemployment, others with food stamps were buying steaks and flashing glitzy jewelry. I learned how to cut up my own chickens and cheap beef roasts to make the meat go farther. I am SOOOO tired of hearing that I’m privileged. We worked for whatever we could get…even my college education…I worked for the tuition and finished without debt. So, pardon me, but I don’t get the rationale in today’s world. This is the greatest country in the world…and all people are doing is putting their hands out. It is the world of opportunity…not gimme. I have friends who have gone through life in similar ways to me. They worked and they achieved. I never heard them ask for anything. I was accused of being racist because I did not know that a black child’s hair would react in water at a swimming pool. How that made me racist, I have no idea. May God grant some semblance of sanity in today’s world.
Amazing…Liberals can not stand to hear the truth…”To anger a conservative (Republican) tell him a lie…To anger a liberal (Democrat) tell him the truth”…Author unknown
Where do I unsubscribe?
The Vicee Principal had every right to express this opinion. Which, by the way, is ALL TRUTH and NOT RACIST BECAUSE THERE MANY WHITE PEOPLE DOING THE SAME THING. Instead of not paying bills they do spend OUR money to buy VERY EXPENSIVE MERCHANDISE NOT EVEN I PURCHASE FOR MYSELF. Get a F’ing Life! The Principal must be black too since if was he or she that reported the Vice Principal. A country is ONLY as great as the people that follow God and do things for right and wrong. NOT STAY HOME AND BE LAZY AND SPEND OUR TAX MONEY! Complainers of color and economic background should wise up. You have all been Dumbed Down even More.
I think that everyone has a Major problem. Racism is being pushed by the democrats and Many people are Too Stupid and Too Ignorant to see the truth. Not to mention Black people are Very Racist, too! However, the the many black people in the spotlight who push racism are in bed with the white man, too. have you illiterate people figured this out yet? No…because they know how deaf, dumb, and blind you really are. It’s funny when I see even white youth jumping on issues that cannot even explain. White America…also, Stupid and Ignorant, generally speaking. Only the wise Black and White citizens see the light. Must be conservatives
that are wise Non-Complainenrs like the TRUE Racists of today. You can’t change the past, but we can change the future and have discipline in our spending habits. get a backbone and get YOUR ASS to work. Do something Productive!
Absurd! This Assistance Principal was merely stating FACTS!!! Elderly people, considered “privileged”, must hold down full time jobs in order to pay their own mortgage, gas/electricity, car note, insurance & food, while, the so-called “underprivileged” have all this provided them w/o lifting a finger, much less holding down a job for a salary. In fact, the taxes taken out of “privileged” elderly working folks paycheck are used to provide the “underprivileged” living expenses … so, the “underprivileged” has much time on their hands to find fault in a working “privileged” woman’s stating a fact & they call for termination of her employ … the Assistant Principal does not need to lose her job, nor, be reprimanded for stating a fact!!!
The principal is absolutely correct. She is merely pointed out a few undeniable truths. But we must always bear in mind that the truth is something the liberals deny and ignore unless it conforms to their agenda. We are deep into the era of controlled thought. It reminds me of the days of Pol Pot when those who didn’t fit the prescribed an officially mandated dogma would be packed of to be off for indoctrination. This has been the norm in almost every despotic regime. The liberals obviously believe that they are imbued with a moral superiority that entitles them the determine and then dictate to all what is the correct and allowable vocabulary to use, the correct behavior, and the proper belief system. Deviation or objection will not be tolerated, under threat of seeing one’s life destroyed. Liberals are the most intolerant, close minded, ignorant bullies imaginable.
Have said the same thing many times but in these times the truth can’t be posted as you will get roasted. It is obvious from what she said and what I have observed those statement are 100% accurate. Have seen those on public assistance buy items I couldn’t afford for my kids.
Iam guessing it’s cause of the fact that more then half are on some forms of aid and their kids wear 200.00 sneakers while the kids with working parents don’t . I know people that say they cant afford to feed their kids but have the new I phones . They cost what 1,000.00 or more . How do they afford them ??? I know I can’t . Guess their kids don’t matter like their phones do . And yet they get payed for doing nothing . If it racists to say the truth … then I guess Iam a racists . I can’t get any help . I had to pay for my kids meals cause the school said I made to much while my neighbor who made more then me , but her kids got free meals in school . Stop the crying about everything … specialy if your getting everything for free . Your the real racists not the one telling the truth .
The original comments say nothing about race. The complaint, however, does. That means the person complaining is the racist.
I don’t think it’s so much racist as it is “welfareist”. And in today’s culture, she sure stepped over the PC line.
As for me, I don’t do social media because I like my life as it is. I’d be too tempted to say what I really think,
just as she did.
What’s wrong with your word program that it puts stupid spaces after apostrophes??
That is so very lame.
STRANGE HOW THE TRUTH HAS BECOME NASTY!! DANGEROUS!! EVIL!! UNACCEPTABLE!!
LADY YOU ARE SPOT ON I WISH YOU A LONG HAPPY HEALTHY SUCCESSFUL LIFE