Racism and ignorance know no bounds, even in high school.
There were monkey sounds at a girl’s basketball game, slave auctions on Snapchat, attacks on Black hair and anti-Semitic taunts at sporting events. One announcer even used the N-word on air.
Last weekend, a racist sign requesting a date to homecoming was added to this horrendous list.
“If I was Black I would be picking cotton. But I’m white so I’m picking you for HOCO,” read the sign held by two white students at Olathe South High School in Kansas.
The photo went viral, prompting officials from Olathe Public Schools in Johnson County to investigate.
Dale Longenecker, principal at Olathe South, sent a letter to parents regarding the incident.
Part of the letter, as reported by the Kansas City Star, read: “The type of behavior displayed in the social media post does not meet the expectations of our core values. Any behavior like this will be immediately addressed in accordance with our Student Code of Conduct.”
This captured the attention of Arizona Cardinals’ linebacker and Olathe native, Isaiah Simmons.
He took to Twitter on Saturday and expressed his disgust over the situation.
Rhonda Windholz, the mother of the girl in the picture, sent a statement Saturday to KSHB 41 News.
“One Caucasian and one African-American boy were involved. It was the African-American boy who actually made the sign, already marked up and took the picture,” said Windholz in her statement. “This by no means makes it right but should shed some light on the situation.
Continue reading over at First and Pen.
This content has been brought to you by First and Pen in partnership with TheHub.News. First and Pen “amplifies local sports stories from voices of color to the national conscience…”
Follow @FirstandPen on Twitter.
Originally posted 2021-09-27 15:00:00.
