Five white students at Evergreen Park Community High School near Chicago, Illinois, lined up for a photo that spelled out the n-word to taunt a black student, according to CBS Chicago. Now, the school's administration is investigating the incident, students are protesting, and the play has been canceled. 

The racial slur was directed towards a black student who was cast as a slave in Evergreen's production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.

Laquetta Johnson, the parent of a black junior at the school, said the word wasn't the first time the student had been harassed during the production. 

“They would taunt him daily during the production," Johnson said. "And this particular day they decided to line up like this and spell that word out.”

The picture was posted on social media, and the student body reacted with distress and anger.

On Monday, students supporting the black player dressed in all black. A representative for this group of students sent CBS a statement that read in part, "With the picture, [we] feel like it was completely disrespectful … and [we] think they knew what they were doing."

Marlon Hayes, the parent of an Evergreen student, disagrees. 

“They’re kids and they’re stupid, I don’t think that these children are racist, I just think they’re children who don’t know any better," Hayes said. "Ignorance played more of a factor than anything else.”

For her part, Johnson wants something done.

"What are they learning at home that they think this is okay?" Johnson said. "I think that the young men should be disciplined."

With a portion of its student body and many parents upset, Evergreen decided to cancel the play.

Thomas O’Malley, the school’s superintendent, said that an investigation is underway and that there will be changes. 

“We are implementing several avenues to address awareness surrounding sensitivity for all of our students," O'Malley said. "As I previously mentioned, we have a very diverse and caring student body. There is no room in our school for disrespect towards any students. These types of actions will not be tolerated in Evergreen Park Community High School.”