Julian Vasquez Heilig has been posting an illuminating series of posts that he calls “The Teat.”
Each of his posts follows the connection between advocacy groups and their funders. Some of these advocacy groups appear to do research, studies, and surveys, but they invariably reflect the priorities of those who supply the money.
In this post, Heilig inquires into the activities of the Black Alliance for Educational Options. This is an organization that advocates for school choice, whether charters or vouchers. The group is politically important because it provides cover for the conservative white men (and they are mostly men) who are pushing privatization.
Historically, disadvantaged minorities have benefited by the protection of the federal government and the courts. Privatization has not been good for those who are poor. Minorities understood that privatization was not their friend. The role of the BAEO is to demonstrate to conservative white politicians and a gullible liberal media that blacks are clamoring for charters and vouchers. With charters and vouchers, that troublesome issue of desegregation may be forgotten, no longer relevant to our day.
Who is funding BAEO? You will not be surprised to learn it is Walton and Gates.
Diane Ravitch's blog 
Never ending control.
Never ending GREED on the backs of kids, teachers, parents, and the community. This is what this country has become.
Wenonah Hauter has published charts of the “power elite” in food production. We educators ought to take a look at these because they are simple, clear and involve many of the same monied interests we are now up against. Agriculture policy has been hijacked, non-profit boards have been populated and universities have been “purchased” so that the fat cats get the dollars. Exact same model applies to the plundering of Public Schools. These charts can be viewed at http://www.foodandwaterwatch.org/ and her book is titled, FOODOPOLY
Diane, would you mind if I forwarded this thread to the people at BAEO?
“. . . the conservative white men. . . ”
Beware the sting of WASPS, especially the bald faced liar ones.
Mayor Cory Booker of Newark, NJ, is running for the senate seat in Nj.
He ia running as a democrat, although he has been supported by the Bradley Foundation and other hard – right groups.
He is a board member of the BAEO.
Here is some background on him and his involvement with the. BAEO from 2002, before he became mayor:
http://www.blackcommentator.com/poisoned_tree.html
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And his support of vouchers:
http://www.blackagendareport.com/content/cory-booker-clear-and-present-threat-public-education