Wake School Board Member Sam Hershey recently apologized for comments he made during a board meeting where he suggested that the country had long been run by “mediocre white men” for 250 years. Although he intended to criticize opposition to diversity, equity, and inclusion rather than demean all white individuals, his remarks were interpreted by some as a general insult. The controversy sparked a heated public debate with strong responses from community members, including a veteran who felt his service and sacrifices were being trivialized. Hershey acknowledged that his comments could have been more nuanced and extended his apology to those, like Erik Shephard, who felt personally attacked. The discussion also touched upon other contentious issues such as DEI initiatives and political appointments, further fueling the online debate.

Key Points:

• Sam Hershey made controversial comments implying that many white men in power were “mediocre.”
• His remarks were aimed at critics of diversity, equity, and inclusion, though they were widely perceived as demeaning to all white men.
• The comment was made during a Wake School Board meeting on February 4.
• Public reactions were mixed, with some supporting Hershey’s stance on diversity and others, including veteran Erik Shephard, feeling personally insulted.
• Hershey apologized for his lack of nuance in addressing these issues.
• The debate also touched upon broader themes of political appointments and the role of DEI initiatives in public discourse.

Funny Joke:
Looks like the school board meeting turned into a master class on “How NOT to give a speech” — next time, maybe they should throw in a PowerPoint slide titled “Mediocre Men 101!”
Link to Article