Midlothian student uses racial slur in video, says Black people can ‘go back to Africa’
A Midlothian high school student was disciplined after a racist video, which included audio of a boy saying the N-word, was circulated on social media.
In the video a boy is heard saying, “You think I care about what all those damn ... have to say about me? ... go back to Africa before I whip all of them.”
Sheri Brezeale, communications director for the Midlothian school district, said the district was “swift with consequences” after being alerted of the video Monday.
The district did not disclose which high school the student attends or the disciplinary measures taken, citing federal educational privacy laws. Midlothian ISD has two high schools, Midlothian High and Heritage.
This is not the first racial controversy that the Midlothian district has faced.
Three students were disciplined in 2018 over a viral video in which one teenager used the N-word 25 times in 10 seconds, WFAA reported.
In June 2020, Midlothian school board trustee Tami Tobey came under fire after photos surfaced of her in blackface at a Halloween party in 2012 before she was elected. Following protests demanding her resignation, Tobey apologized and was re-elected.
In response to the controversy, the district in August 2020 hired Chalisa Fain as its first director of diversity, equity and inclusion. But some parents and community members earlier this year demanded Fain’s resignation over some social posts they found objectionable, the Midlothian Mirror reported.
Another group of parents rallied in support of Fain, who is currently listed as director of student support and federal programs on the district website.
As of 2019, Black residents made up 5% of Midlothian’s population, which was 33,532 at the time according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
This story was originally published October 28, 2021 at 9:03 PM.
