Ravenwood High students protest, speak out following racist incident

Jadon Moore arrived at Ravenwood High earlier this month to discover a shocking statement typed into the username prompt of his computer.

It was a racial slur. Strategically placed so he would see it.

"I was really just shocked at first," Moore, a Black student and graduating senior, told The Tennessean. "But, I knew my teacher would have my back, so I felt comfortable talking to her about it."

Classroom cameras revealed that a white student typed the word into the computer, Moore, 19, said. Williamson County Schools confirmed that a white student typed the racial slur, and it launched an investigation, but did not confirm what appeared in the video footage.

The incident, meanwhile, has led to a bigger conversation about race at the high school.

Students organized a protest Friday during a break period. The peaceful demonstration was approved by Pam Vaden, principal of the Brentwood school. And on Monday, more than 10 people shared diversity and inclusion concerns at a Williamson County Schools board of education meeting.

Community members told The Tennessean that Vaden moved to change Ravenwood's policy regarding racial harassment — a result of students voicing frustration that a three-day, in-school suspension wasn't sufficient disciplinary action.

“The adage, ‘What are you going to do about it?’ was resolved with factual and thoughtful action,” said Revida Rahman, a parent and founder of One WillCo, a  grassroots advocacy network focused on advancing racial equity across Williamson County Schools.

“Now Ravenwood has consequences that WCS has never had before."

Consequences that Rahman said her organization has sought for some time.

Williamson County Schools has not confirmed the policy change.

The district confirmed that the student responsible for the racial slur has faced disciplinary action, but did not confirm details.

Superintendent Jason Golden said Monday the administration continues to work on standardizing student handbooks for the coming year and better ensuring consistent, district-wide discipline methods — a commitment made last year in response to recommendations from the district's diversity and inclusion consultants. The district also began piloting a QR code bullying reporting system earlier this year.

"We have some room to grow in all of those (areas)," Golden said. "But I see some growth that we've worked on this year and that we'll be working on this summer so that we have growth toward consistency in the consequences.

"It is about teaching respect...That needs to be an ongoing effort to encourage all of our students and teachers to treat each other with respect."

Student troubled by racial harassment: 'We're just attacking racism'

Dressed in all-black for the protest, students on Friday asked for racist incidents to cease.

"I don't care what side of the political aisle you're on; Republican, Democrat, whatever, this is not about that," junior Mars Griffin said through a megaphone at the protest, captured on video.

"This is about a word that was used back in slave times, and y'all are using it now in 2022, like it's funny. Like it's a joke."

Hundreds of students attended, Griffin said.

While some Ravenwood High students believe the protest was a success, others opposed the demonstration, opting to wear white outfits to contrast Black apparel.

"But, I guess that's what you get when you go to a school like Ravenwood," Griffin said, addressing the county and high school's demographics: predominantly white and conservative.

"We're not bashing or attacking anybody in particular, not the school, not the student who called me a racial slur," Moore said.

"We're just attacking racism."

In a politically polarized America, where some residents call for the nation to move on from its racist past, Moore wants onlookers to understand racism is still in the present.

"(People) just need to be real with themselves and wake up," he said. "To this day, we're still not being treated fairly."

A demand for school action in Williamson County

At the board meeting, Brentwood parent and One WillCo member Tizgel High said the WCS board and administration's current pace of work on diversity and inclusion isn't enough, especially in light of the district's recent moves to address criticism of the Wit & Wisdom curriculum and the Epic! digital library app.

"You spent needless time, money and effort pandering to parents that want to campaign against the professionals of the school district," High said.

"Mind you, people are coming here with urgent issues and you're not doing enough."

Anika Exum is a reporter for The Tennessean covering Williamson County. Reach her at 615-347-7313, on Twitter @aniexum, or via E-mail at aexum@tennessean.com.

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This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Ravenwood High students protest, speak out following racist incident