Video about race at a high school sparks controversy Sh*t White People Say
BEDFORD, Mass. (MyFoxBoston.com) -- A controversial video about race at a local high school has parents demanding answers from school officials.
The video, entitled (Expletive) White People Say: BHS Edition, was shown during the Wednesday morning announcements at Bedford High School on its student-run show "BHS Live."
In the video, students acted out vignettes that included stereotypes white students might say about African American students.
"I'm very offended by what I saw," said parent Bob Marshall. "It was a very disgusting video, very hurtful video."
Marshall's daughter first alerted him to the video, telling him that she and other students in her class were offended by the message portrayed.
"A lot of them were upset by what they saw," Marshall said. "I'm shocked that a video like that could be displayed and that nobody oversaw it."
In a letter to parents, the principal of BHS admitted "...there has not been a vetting process of videos for BHS Live. Therefore, the video was not previewed by any administrator, student or teacher surrounding BHS Live. A protocol for vetting student videos is being developed."
Superintendent John Sills told FOX25 that the video was not intended to be a joke, and was made by a senior who is in the broadcast journalism program as a way to spur a conversation on race relations.
"Unfortunately, it was framed in a way that was offensive," Sills said.
Sills said Wednesday school leaders hosted a meeting with students and staff to discuss reactions to the video, and added more than 150 students joined the conversation.
"I would never say it's good when something offensive happens. But we always seek to find positives, and we continue to work to derive learning from it," Sills said.
Sills said employees would not face any disciplinary action, but would say if the student who made the video will be disciplined.
Bob Marshall told FOX25 he was not satisfied with the district's response.
"To me, it's smoke and mirrors to say oh, it was a learning lesson," Marshall said. "Somebody needs to be held accountable and somebody needs to lose their job over it."Video about race at a high school sparks controversy in local to - Boston News, Weather, Sports | FOX 25 | MyFoxBoston:
