Mich. State Sen. Marty Knollenberg (R-Troy): ‘We Can’t Make an African-American White’

Michigan Lawmaker: 'We Can't Make An African-American White' (The Huffington Post)

A Michigan state lawmaker has come under fire for responding to data showing educational disparities by saying "we can't make an African-American white."

State Sen. Marty Knollenberg (R) made the comment during a hearing Thursday after seeing state data breaking down academic performance among different demographic groups. The data indicated most students who were struggling were students of color, Knollenberg later told WXYZ Detroit.

"You mention why these schools districts fail, and you mention economically disadvantaged and non-white population are contributors to that. And we can’t fix that. We can’t make an African-American white," he said at the meeting. "That's just, it is what it is."