Pearland is the second most diverse city in Texas. The City’s founding was dependent on both Brazoria County and Houston, as a Railway hub. Early advertisements trying to draw in new residents advertised Pearland as the “Capital of Caucasia”. While that language is no longer used, it has been replaced with “Don’t Houston our Pearland” a blatant dog whistle that seeks to keep Pearland “status quo”. For People of Color this is means blatantly “White”. Despite halfhearted protests to the contrary.
The Court “Rules of Court Decorum” list “No inappropriate attire. No shorts or cut-offs; No low-cut blouses or tops; No skirts or dresses that are short (less than halfway from knee to top of thigh); no muscle shirts or shirts without sleeves, clothing with offensive, vulgar, racist, sexist, obscene, lewd, or suggestive words, slogans, depictions, or pictures; No clothing too tight, too short, too baggy, or pants worn below the waistline.”
So while you can’t wear Racist language on your clothing, you are free to express those views and hold office in Pearland. Former City Council member Kevin Cole, and Current City Council Member Woody Owens are proud of the language they use online. Kevin Cole is currently running for Mayor in Pearland.
https://t.co/V7fgCADFG3?amp=1
Here is a video that highlights some of the bigoted rhetoric that Mr. Owens has shared.
It’s important to note that Pearland ISD has a long history of racism as well. The racism is core to the identity of many in Pearland. The question comes to, why are such blatantly racist people allowed to hold office in Pearland? Simply put, all positions are “at large” positions. Municipal elections are usually held in May, a historically low turnout date that has allowed racists to consolidate their power. Tactics such as closing of roads near polling locations, or trying to illegal prevent people from voting because “they look like someone that already has”.
While there are many in the community that gloss over these issues and excuse them, it’s become blatantly clear that while those in power will gladly take the tax dollars of POC, they clearly don’t want to let them have a true voice in leadership.
Pearland leadership decided to invite CBP snipers onto the rooftop of Dawson HS in preparation for George Floyd’s funeral. Racist leadership see any gathering of support for Blacks and other POC as “dangerous”.
In the last few years Pearland has seen dozens of articles regarding racism. At each incident leadership glosses over the problems, promises reform, and then they openly support racist rhetoric and openly invite dangerous hate groups with their rhetoric and racist dog whistles. Below are some examples of the articles that have been written about Pearland and Pearland ISD.
What is truly infuriating isn’t just the racism. People of Color are used to dealing with institutionalized racism and open bigotry. It’s not “new” to us. It’s the sad attempts at trying to explain away the racism by mediocre leadership that assume that anyone darker than a sheet of printer paper is somehow easily fooled into believing their lies. Truthfully that’s not new to POC either, it’s just constantly insulting.
News Sources:
https://www.click2houston.com/news/local/2020/08/12/pearland-isd-teacher-under-fire-for-white-slaves-post/
https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-texas/houston/article/Second-Pearland-ISD-student-accuses-administrator-15001523.php
https://www.chron.com/houston/article/Pearland-ISD-faces-accusations-of-racial-13872602.php
https://www.thecrisismagazine.com/single-post/2019/12/16/Racism-in-Texas-Schools
https://www.fox26houston.com/news/pearland-parents-complain-of-pattern-of-discrimination-in-the-district
https://www.click2houston.com/news/2019/06/15/neighbors-concerns-grow-after-racist-graffiti-spray-painted-on-fence/
http://forwardtimes.com/what-if-it-were-your-child-pearland-isd-employees-named-in-federal-lawsuit-after-humiliating-13-year-old-black-student-by-blackening-his-scalp-with-permanent-marker/
https://www.rawstory.com/2012/04/racism-and-vigilante-justice-in-pearland-texas/
https://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/articles/news/2017/11/17/251599/pearland-isd-continues-to-support-superintendent-after-latest-controversy/
http://www.city-data.com/forum/houston/1744688-what-african-american-experience-like-living-3.html