IRL

High school marching band spells out racist slur during halftime show

The school principal said the students involved will be disciplined.

Photo of Samantha Grasso

Samantha Grasso

Marching band sousaphones
garyh18/Pixabay (CC-BY)

The Brookwood High School marching band in Snellville, Georgia, is being investigated after its sousaphone players spelled out a racist slur with their horn covers during the band’s halftime game.

Featured Video

According to the Associated Press via ABC News, instrument covers are used by the marching band’s sousaphone players, or players of the upright tuba, to spell out the school’s mascot, the Broncos. Instead, on Friday, the high schoolers spelled out a four-letter racist slur against Black people.

On Saturday, school principal Bo Ford sent a letter to the community apologizing, calling the term “racial” (but not “racist”) and “completely unacceptable.” As a result of the slur, the school’s halftime procedures are being investigated, with pending disciplinary action against the sousaphone players who participated. The instrument covers aren’t generally used during the live performance, Ford wrote, and “rules weren’t followed” because the band director wasn’t on the field that night.

Advertisement

READ MORE:

H/T ABC News

 
The Daily Dot