In 2018 Calvin Terrell came to Grand Haven to speak with the students about bullying. His visit to Grand Haven became very controversial. See this article regarding the visit.
On December 30, 2020 Calvin Terrell was a guest speaker at the Momentum Center’s Town Hall on Racism and the Educational System (Dec 2020).
In the following video Calvin begins speaking at the 4 minute 45 second mark with his version of American history, which although contains some truth, is spun to teach that America is a nation built on racism. At 8 minutes 40 seconds Calvin says, “We have never been a moral society. We have been a society of law and order, and that order is us sustaining white dominance.” At 11 minutes 15 seconds Calvin says, “White supremacy stands on two legs; anti-indigeneity and anti-blackness. Until we address the anti-indigenous aspect of schooling and the anti-blackness aspect of schooling nothing will change.” Then at the 15-minute mark, Calvin instructs participants to take out a sheet of paper and draw a simple sketch of a ladder. Next to each wrung he instructs participants to write the following words, “White people, white $tatu$, otherness, dangerous, black status, black people.” He says when we talk about law and order, this represents the order.
What is interesting is that Calvin Terrell has spoken at least twice in Grand Haven; once for Grand Haven Area Public Schools and once for the Momentum Center. There several people that live in Grand Haven that have connections with those two institutions.
Mary Jane Evink - Director of Instructional Services for Grand Haven Area Public Schools
Tracey Nauta – School board candidate for 2020, and member of GHAPS Diversity, Equity and Inclusion committee
Andy Ingall – Former superintendent for GHAPS
Brian Wheeler – Former Assistant Superintendent and head of the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee for GHAPS who was arrested and accused of embezzling $900,000 from GHAPS
When skin color is tied to status racism is being taught. It is pretty clear from the above video and screenshot that Calvin Terrell teaches racism. This must not be allowed in our community. Achievement is what made Grand Haven great and what has made America the greatest country in the world.