Racial link set out at the high school half-time

The news that members of the Brookwood High School fanfare used instrument covers to explain their atrocious racial insults and saddened many members of the Gwinnett County community. But when they discovered that the authors were minorities, it was like a punch.

"This shows the need for race discussions," said Marlyn Tillman, a parent company of Gwinnett County and founder of Gwinnett SToPP, a nonprofit advocacy group, "What is it?" motivated that? What lack of self esteem do these students have to do for this?

Some sousaphone players (a snorkel-like copper instrument) have come together to spell the word "coon" using instrument covers that are normally used to spell "Broncos", the school's mascot. Although the covers are commonly used while the group is in the stands, they must be removed before taking the pitch – mainly because they dampen the sound, but also because the members are not always in sequence, so that the word can be scrambled.

Brookwood Director William Bo Ford Jr. sent a letter to parents, students and community members on Saturday to shed light on this topic.

"As promised, we opened an investigation into this case and I wanted to share with you our current findings and the steps we are taking with the students who have been involved," Ford wrote on Monday. "After extensive interviews with many students, we determined that three seniors had intentionally planned and applied the use of sousaphone coverage to clarify a totally unacceptable racist term. The fourth student, a junior, who wore one of the letters spelling out the word, seems to have adhered to the plan at the last minute. However, the four students knew what was going to happen and what they were saying during the halftime show. "

The students – two blacks, an Asian and a Hispanic – told the administrators that they thought what they would do would be fun. Ford added that the children knew that it was a racist term and that it was not acceptable. Two other students were involved in the Friday night incident, but lied to school officials about what happened, they will also be punished.

"I am hurt and disappointed by these students and their actions that stunned our community. As you all know, that's not what we are. Brookwood is proud to be an inclusive and tolerant school community, "wrote Ford. "It's a good time for all of us to teach, and students need to be aware that their actions and words have consequences."

Some members of the community agree that this should be used as a good time for teaching.

"What happened here is a microcosm of what's happening at the national level," said Penny Poole, president of the Gwinnett NAACP chapter. "These children have created a hostile environment and it is so that (students) are so bold, bold and unashamed. They really have to know that it will not be tolerated. "

The Brookwood community has a Facebook forum that was full of speculation on Monday. But many parents insisted that the coldest people take it away and use what happened as a point of dialogue.

"It's important for parents to talk to their children so that they understand the meaning of the words," said Charity Kohl, a Brookwood parent. "We are a family and there should not be anything we can not talk about. Whether by accident or on purpose, we are better than that. "

Ford wrote in the letter, "It is also important for us to come together to support our program, as well as the student and team leaders of our award-winning group. I believe in our students and our community that we will stand together and become stronger in this difficult time. I hope that our program, our school and our community will not be judged on the basis of the unfortunate decisions and actions of a few teenagers in development. As always, thank you for your support of our students and our school. "

While comforting members of her own community, Brookwood did not contact Lakeside High.

A spokesman for DeKalb County Schools said he had not received any news by late afternoon.

"DCSD is disappointed that students and community members in both schools have been exposed to insensitive and divisive language. Racial slurs serve only to divide our communities, "said a statement from DeKalb. "We are confident that Brookwood High School and Gwinnett County Public Schools are taking the steps that are required to address this unfortunate situation."

The investigation is not over yet and school officials have not yet determined the amount of the penalty, said Bernard Watson, spokesman for schools in Gwinnett County. He wanted to rule out rumors that the director of the group and other members of the group could be suspended.

"The group will be in the field on Friday," he said.