Thread by @cvaldary

Wait should I live tweet how this film (Lean on Me) is not only a great film but a great representation of the antithesis of intersectionality? Should I??

Intersectionalists would explain the beating up (and in some cases, near sexual assault) of teachers as the natural product of systemic racism or something. In contrast, Principal Clark stated simply, "give me the names of every hoodlum, miscreant, etc. on my desk by noon today

It's also interesting how Principle clark very explicitly believes in broken windows theory.

Aka all of you are now expelled. Bye.

Clark introduced the concept of discipline + pride back into the equation. One takes care of what they have pride in. He believed in them. And when you believe in someone, the excuses that come from the "grievance studies" department simply will not do.

"If you do not do well, I do not want you to blame your parents. I do not want you to blame the white man. I want you to blame yourself. The responsibility is yours!"

What's interesting about this is that it is only once you accept that you're responsible that you can change.

Which isn't to say that you won't need help. This was Clark's blindspot. Saying that one is responsible for something doesn't mean that that person won't need help or guidance. It's not a binary. But its only when you know that youre in large part responsible that you can change.

The mom whose son was expelled proclaiming that Clark "has declared war on his own people" is prescient. Its precisely what #wokeness is about: the notion that demanding excellence is a declaration of war against your own people; how insulting that she did not believe in them.

"Do whatever you have to to transform and transmogrify this school into a special place!" lol Clark channeling his inner @jordanbpeterson who always says "conceptualize the highest good, strive to obtain it."

Sams is the prince who must slay the dragon and Clark is his yoda master. Okay I'll stop with the @jordanbpeterson references for now.

"Self respect permeates every aspect of your lives. If you don't have it for yourself, you're not gonna get it from anywhere."

-- challenges the intersectionalist doctrine that an external cosmic force known as whiteness (read Coates) is responsible for personal "oppression"

Clark sometimes confused disciplinarianism (I know that's not a word) with tyranny and really needed to calm the hell down at times.

what strikes me about the intersectionalists is that they don't really seem to be interested in in the intimate lives of the people they claim to care about -- which are much more complicated and real than portrayed

The fate of Kid Ray was definitely one of the saddest. He gave up on himself.

When they sing Fair East Side, you can see the pride building. Because they built that. It's proof they've finally begun to take pride in what is there's. And when you do that, you make something beautiful.

The part where Clark makes his teachers hold their hands up totally transforms the image that #BlackLivesMatter has used as its symbol of resistance. (aka hands up don't shoot.)

"These are my white children! They are the same as the rest of you...we meet our fate together!...you are not inferior! Your grades may have been, but show them what eastside high is all about. A spirit that will not die!"

Fin. 🙏🏾