A Black Dallas-area school principal is fighting for his job since being suspended after white parents accused him of pushing critical race theory.

James Whitfield was suspended with pay in September from his job as principal of Colleyville Heritage High School, a predominantly white institution. Whitfield, the school’s first Black principal, will appear before a hearing on or before Nov. 9.

Since he was named principal, in early 2020, white parents have lodged varying complaints about his actions, including his participation in a school district event promoting diversity and his writing of an email decrying racism in the wake of the murder of George Floyd. 

“He is encouraging the disruption and destruction of our district,” The Texas Tribune quoted former school board candidate Stetson Clark as saying. 

Whitfield told the Tribune, “I am the quintessential boogeyman for these people,” he said, adding, “Anything that has to do with anything related to equity, or inclusion or diversity — they’re going to try to attach it to (critical race theory).”