Michelle Obama’s Brother & His Wife Sue Children’s Former School, Accusing It of Racial Bias

Michelle Obama’s Brother & His Wife Sue Their Children’s Former School After They Were Kicked Out Amid Concerns Of Racial Bias

Craig Robinson–the brother of former first lady Michelle Obama– and his wife, Kelly Robinson, are suing the University School of Milwaukee, alleging that administrators expelled their two young sons after raising concerns about racial and socio-economic bias at the school.

Michelle Obama

Reportedly, the school expelled their 11-year-old son in April 2021 and then their 9-year-old son in June 2021 after Craig and Kelly Robinson expressed their concerns with the expensive pre-k through 12th grade private school. The Robinson’s are alleging that the University School of Milwaukee used words like ‘plantation’ inappropriately during lessons. They also claim that teachers were inconsiderate to a wide variety of socio-economic backgrounds.

The Robinsons spoke to “Good Morning America” Tuesday (Apr.19) to further discuss the lawsuit and the claims against the school.

“We’re moving forward with this for a couple of reasons. We want to hold University School of Milwaukee accountable not just to our two children who they retaliated against, but more importantly, there’s a whole community of people who are out there that we wouldn’t feel right if this happened moving forward. The third reason is, this needs to stop and change and this will help all students at the University School of Milwaukee.”

Craig and Kelly Robinson

According to a termination letter the school sent to the Robinsons, the reasoning for their sons’ expulsion was because the Robinsons had

‘not fulfilled the foregoing commitments as a partner to USM and its Middle School teachers and administrators.’

It also alleges that the Robinsons

‘repeatedly engaged in disrespectful and demanding communications with our teachers and administrators.’

The Robinson’s feel that their children’s dismissal was retaliation to the conversations they had with the school about racial bias in school assignments.

Craig Robinson explains,

“As a lot of parents, we heard what was going on in the classroom because of COVID and there were repeated use of racial and ethnic stereotypes that were in actual assignments. The use of the word plantation and things of that nature. In addition to the racial and ethnic stereotypes, there was an insensitivity to socioeconomic status and as well as a disregard for the children who weren’t physically in the classroom.”

Over the course of the school year, the Robinsons expressed their concerns to the school. Craig says that their intentions was to “have a communication with them and give them some suggestions” but that it was “summarily dismissed.” According to the lawsuit,

“the Robinsons communicated directly with USM faculty and staff about the inclusion of language in various worksheets and projects that was offensive to persons of color, persons with disabilities, indigenous Americans and other underrepresented students.” 

Michelle Obama's brother and his wife sue children's former school, accusing it of racial and socioeconomic bias. @SteveOsunsami reports. https://t.co/jFKtpRGqkD pic.twitter.com/SHubHjC3W8

— Good Morning America (@GMA) April 19, 2022

According to the lawsuit, the “Underground Railroad” was a simulation in which students of color were told to act like “runaway slaves” while USM faculty acted as “slave catchers.”
The program was discontinued only after multiple students of color, USM parents, Black alumni and others protested its insensitivity, the couple said in the suit.

During their interview, Kelly Robinson gave a draw dropping detail highlighting the schools controversial history.

“Just as recently as 10 years ago, the University School of Milwaukee had in their fourth-grade curriculum that students reenacted the underground railroad. And students dressed up as slaves and ran through the school in the dark and the teachers were actually the slave masters who captured these students.”

She added that,

“one of the other stories that we heard was about how the black students seem to get more harsh punishments than their white counterparts.”