Marching band sousaphones

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High school marching band spells out racist slur during halftime show

The school principal said the students involved will be disciplined.

 

Samantha Grasso

IRL

Posted on Nov 5, 2018   Updated on May 21, 2021, 2:28 am CDT

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.

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.

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H/T ABC News

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*First Published: Nov 5, 2018, 9:06 am CST