It's Necessary: Turpin students have broader minds than school board, parents

Students at Turpin High School walked out in protest on May 17 after the Forest Hills School District canceled the school's "Diversity Day." The annual event, which highlighted racial and cultural issues for the 90 percent-white student body, was apparently too controversial for some school board members and parents. Thankfully, the students at Turpin have broader minds than the aforementioned adults.

That school board members and angry parents triggered by the mention of anything racial, cultural, gay, etc. are using schools as the latest battlefield in their culture wars isn't anything new. That's happening everywhere in the United States. What makes this incident so conspicuous is that it occurred just days after the Buffalo, New York massacre, where over 10 people were killed in a racially motivated mass killing. The Buffalo massacre is the latest example of how deep racial issues run in the U.S. Cancelling a "Diversity Day," because the issues make some adults uncomfortable doesn't mean those issues disappear.

I know the chances are slim that any of the Turpin students who protested or spoke out will read this or see the cartoon. But I still want to say this to them: You're my heroes. You give me hope. You're taking a stand for what's right. As you get older, please stay involved in your community and in our democracy. Be active. Make our country and our planet better.

More: Turpin student takes national stage to talk about 'immeasurable stress' Diversity Day cancellation

More: Turpin students protest school board over decision to again postpone Diversity Day

Kevin Necessary is an illustrator and editorial cartoonist. His editorial cartoons appear Sundays in The Enquirer.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: It's Necessary: Turpin students have broader minds than school board, parents