Dear Collins Hill High School, Racism Is NOT Okay!

Gwinnett County School System continues to praise diversity, yet controversy strikes again with yet another incident of racism.

A racist photo, included in this article, of a student with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was published in the yearbook using the word 'nigger" that is blanked out in the photo along with student's photo. The Principal of the school issues this apology letter that is featured below in this article. 

"We are tired of apologies and then racists educational leaders allow events like this to happen every school year!", says one Gwinnett parent. Parents and students are tired of these apologies. There must be change! 

All of the students involved need consequences including those on the yearbook staff and the scholar who took the photo. Gwinnett County and the Principal have stated an investigation is taking place. 

However, incidents like this led to the death of Kendrick Johnson in South Georgia. Parents are wanting an external investigation to take place and a clear plan of action from Gwinnett School Board leaders to address racism. 

Action Steps

1. Contact the school board District II representative Steven B. Knudsen (Current term expires December 2022)

5280 Regency Lake Ct., Sugar Hill, GA 30518 • Phone— (470) 839-5366

2. Demand that this yearbook company contract be removed and they be banned from business with the school district. 

3. Demand a culturally inclusive curriculum as it is clear the students and staff need this Gwinnett County

Dear Collins Hill High School Families and Staff Members,

I am reaching out to make you aware of a disturbing issue involving our school yearbook. The yearbooks arrived this week and we began distributing them when it was brought to our attention that it includes an inappropriate and racist photograph. This is unacceptable and we are currently investigating to determine who submitted this photo and how our processes did not address this before it went to print. Once this investigation is completed we will take appropriate action with those involved. In our initial investigation, it appears that some of the pages planned for the yearbook were not finished prior to our students moving to digital learning. As these photos were not available​, the yearbook company replaced those pages with senior selfies that had been submitted. Unfortunately, ​the picture was not caught in the final proof before the yearbook went to press. That said, this photo was submitted by our yearbook staff and we are meeting with those involved to determine how that occurred.

In the meantime, I want to make you aware of the steps we are taking to remove this offensive picture from our yearbook. We are working with the yearbook company to print a sticker of a replacement photo that will be mailed to all who purchased a yearbook. As we have not finished distributing the yearbooks, this photo has been altered to block the offensive message from all yearbooks still in our possession. We also will be reviewing all of our yearbook processes—from the submission of photos to final proofing—to ensure this does not occur again.

I know offensive words and sentiments like the ones included in this photo are hurtful and you have my full apology this has happened. I am disappointed in the students involved, as this is not who we are at Collins Hill High School and does not reflect our values and beliefs.

Sincerely,

Kerensa Wing,

Principal