Welcome to Courtside, everyone, a discussion of legal issues.

Today I want to talk about a new law in Oklahoma that is trying to basically restrict thought and teaching.

And I also want to do a quick but deep explainer about the Tulsa Massacre of 1921.

That massacre happened actually 100 years ago today, May 31, 1921. That massacre happened actually 100 years ago today, May 31st, 1921. And these two things,

the Oklahoma law and the Tulsa Massacre, are linked not just by geography, but because of the

erasure of certain parts of American history from our educational system and our classrooms.

And, you know, I've always loved history, and I've taken many classes, history classes from

some of the world's finest institutions. And yet the truth is, I never learned about the Tulsa

Massacre until watching HBO's Watchmen, a science fiction

show when I was half done with my life.

There's something really wrong with this, and the Oklahoma bill that's now law is part of the

problem.

So what's this Oklahoma law, first of all?

It says the following, quote,

no enrolled student of an institution of higher education shall be required to engage in any form

of mandatory gender or sexual diversity training or counseling. And it says, no teacher shall

require or make part of a course the following concepts.

An individual by virtue of his or her sex or race?

There is responsibility for actions committed in the past by other members of the same

sex or race.

And also forbids this concept, quote, meritocracy or traits such as hard work ethic are racist or sexist or were created by members of a particular race to oppress.

Now, this law has already had the effect of really curtailing speech on campus.

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