The vibes should feel positive and celebratory as we start a new school year. Yet here we are, already seeing a flagrant display of racism from a Swanton, Ohio, student.
A student created a poster board asking another student to the upcoming homecoming dance.
“If I was Black, I’d be picking cotton, but I’m white, so I’m picking u 4 hoco,” the banner read.
The racist homecoming invitation immediately circulated across all social media platforms, and the local school district became aware. School officials condemned the act and used this as an opportune time to remind students of lessons on hate, racism, and discrimination.
This isn’t the first time that this type of poster has appeared in the school setting. Similar homecoming requests have been previously reported in the last few years.
According to a representative for the Swanton Local School District, the district is “deeply shocked” that a student would consider this remark appropriate.
“We are deeply shocked that a student would think it is acceptable to make such a comment and even more shocked that any parent would allow their student to make such a sign,” the statement said in part, WTOL11 reports.
The school district also said that they have reached out to the student’s parents and will speak with the student directly when he returns to school.
