The principal of Collins Hill High School in Suwanee, Georgia, issued an apology after a racist photo got published in the yearbook. The photoshopped image featured a student standing next to the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. holding a piece of paper that is supposed to be a pass allowing him to use racist language.
Parents and students were outraged when they saw the photograph.
"We have enough to deal with in 2020 as it is being African American or black. This is what we open our yearbook to. This is what we're dealing with," Kavanti White, whose daughter Aaliyah Williams was a senior at Collins Hill, told WXIA.
In a letter to parents, the school's principal, Kerensa Wing, said officials have launched an investigation into the matter.
"Our investigation into how this occurred is still underway as I am continuing to meet and speak with students and their families," Wing said. "In addition, I am addressing the staff members who oversaw this process, and we are taking action to ensure this does not happen again."
Wing said that she has issued a recall for the yearbooks and will have them reprinted without the offensive photograph.
"I want to reiterate that this type of racist behavior is unacceptable and has no place in our school. Our school and community is very diverse, and we have worked hard at creating an environment for our students in which they feel welcomed, safe, and secure," Wing wrote. "Obviously, the yearbook that was published violates that trust. As a first step in rebuilding that trust, we are going to print new, revised yearbooks, replacing this photo."
Wing said that they hope to have the new yearbooks ready to distribute by July 5. They will be provided for free, but the old yearbook must be turned in first.
Photo: Google Maps