Hate, racism find their way to a school in Dixon

A week ago, students and staff at John Knight Middle School in Dixon peacefully protested against racism and “otherness” in front of the school.

Earlier this month, a seventh-grade boy at the school took photos of about 23 students and the principal, uploading them to Instagram with the caption, “Happy black history month (sic) to all of the m***eys.” According to the Dixon Unified School District, all the participants were either Black or biracial and unaware of why their picture was being taken.

DUSD Superintendent Brian Dolan immediately condemned the post in a statement and ensured further investigation of other victims and suspects. He said full disciplinary action would be taken, along with providing additional staff training and resources districtwide. So far, the student has yet to return to school.

I hope the DUSD helps the student and others understand the gravity of the post and the historical connotation behind it. Comparing Black people to monkeys has a long, dark history rooted in chattel slavery that justified the brutal institution in America, continuing inhumane treatment against Black Americans, often costing them their lives.

The systematic dehumanization required reducing Black people to animals also to justify unequal policies, laws, and inequities that persist today.

Aside from the racial incident at the Dixon school and other schools nationwide, adults are guilty of calling Black people monkeys, too.

In 2018, Roseanne Barr, former star of the hit sitcom “Roseanne,” believed she could get away with firing off a series of racist tweets she sent equating Valerie Jarrett, a Black woman and former senior advisor to President Barack Obama, with an ape.

In 2019, a White Oklahoma City news anchor, during footage of an ape recording selfie videos, took a shot at in-studio banter by comparing her Black co-anchor on-air to a gorilla.

That same year, a Texas teacher was placed on administrative leave for calling students monkeys on Facebook.

Many students' behaviors reflect what's happening in the home, in the political, media, and social media culture. The various narratives and behaviors we allow in society also influence how children perceive and process information. They aren't stupid.

Meanwhile, the Teaching Tolerance organization reported in its “Hate at School 2019” report a “disturbing number of incidents involving identity-based slurs, hateful symbols, bigotry and the harassment of children in school.”

In another 2019 report, “Teaching Tolerance Hate At School Teacher Comments,” teachers commented that many of their students call their peers horrible racial slurs and other derogatory terms, resulting in major fights and bullying.

These same students will one day attend college together or work with each other in the workplace. And become a member of our overall society.

In the “Hate at School” report that is worth reading, along with the teachers' comments, some recommendations are that our elected leaders denounce white supremacy and racist, xenophobic, and anti-LGBTQ words and actions.

Educators must address these issues in their classrooms.

Our local school boards and governments must ensure that the community is representative of all voices. We must hold them accountable for school climate and student safety.

I'll add that parents or guardians must do their part in teaching and modeling morals and values, laying a healthy foundation for them. An ethnic history curriculum educates and opens students' consciousness.

And when we witness harassment, says the report, bullying, or bigotry, we must speak up regardless of race or ethnicity, religious affiliation, sexual orientation, or gender identity.

As some of the Dixon students said, “It's not OK.”