Governor Shumlin had a news conference today; his first in two weeks. It came at a time when the Legislature is in high gear, trying to plow through its most contentious issues before adjournment. But the Governor’s topic today wasn’t taxes, or the Earned Income Tax Credit, or the Reach Up lifetime cap, or any of the other issues where he’s been at odds with most of his own party.

No, it was education. With a dual focus: the not-terribly-controversial elements of his education program*, and the not-at-all-controversial celebration of Vermont’s semifinalists for the 2013 Presidential Scholars Program — six high school seniors of remarkable intelligence and achievement.

*His press release omitted his proposed EITC cut to fund child care.

It was a nice event, but there was one false note. It was like going to a top-notch classical concert where there was one notable blunder: it’s unfair to judge the whole event by one discordant note, but it’s also difficult to ignore.  

The six semifinalists, two of whom will be chosen as Presidential Scholars, are Abigail Dutton of South Royalton, David Fickes of Peacham, Julia Gilbert of Montpelier, Sossina Gutema of Essex, Timothy Rizvanov of Essex Junction, and Lucy Rogers of Waterville. The Governor announced each of them in turn (except Gilbert, who was out of town) and read a list of their achievements.

And when he got to Gutema, whose father is Ethiopian and whose mother is originally from East Germany, and who is a lovely young woman with a well-tended Afro, the Governor referred to her as “one of the great students that helps Vermont be a more diverse and extraordinary state.”

Which immediately made me think, Why is the brown one always the Avatar of Diversity?

Especially since there was another perfectly good Avatar on hand: Timothy Rizvanov, child of two Russian emigres. But he’s white, so he doesn’t count, I guess.

It’s a small point, and I don’t want it to overshadow the entire presser or the accomplishments of these six students. But it’s a point worth making. It speaks to the way Us White People tend to unconsciously pigeonhole those of other races and ethnicities. And even though it was meant in a perfectly positive way, it was a false note in an otherwise pleasant performance.