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Teacher Disciplined For Using Racial Slur; SCLC Says N-word Is Problem In Escambia Schools
April 14, 2009
A white teacher in North Escambia County has been disciplined for using racial slurs in an email that referred to a black custodian as “the n” and “Miss Maid”. Meanwhile, the Pensacola Chapter of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference says that the use of the “N”-word is a problem in Escambia schools.
Jennifer Dickens, a seventh grade reading teacher at Ransom Middle School, wrote the email to the school’s assistant principal, saying “I’ve had it with the n who is supposed to be cleaning my room” in reference to problems she had with the quality of work from a black custodian at the school.
The spokesperson for the Pensacola chapter of the SCLC, Art Rocker, sent an email to the media Monday night with the subject line “Use of the word ‘Nigger’ is an epidemic with staff and administrators at Escambia County School District”.
Rocker refers to a preliminary finding by a U.S. district judge in the case of Karen Broughton, a black woman, who is suing the Escambia County School District for discrimination. Broughton’s lawsuit was filed two years ago after she says she was transferred from Warrington Middle School to Pensacola High School after she complained a white co-worker used the “N”-word in front of students. A U.S. district judge refused to dismiss the lawsuit on a motion by the school board.
Later today, the SCLC will release a copy of a letter written to Florida’s education commissioner. In a copy of the letter obtained by NorthEscambia.com, Rocker suggest that Gov. Charlie Crist “do a press conference on the ‘n’ word, where educators use it loosely with our children in the Escambia School District”.
“This term is most inflammatory, degrading and insulting to African-American students and staff,” Rocker’s letter says. “The use of this term is also very unprofessional and unethical.”
Rocker claims that the use of the “N”-word has occurred at Ransom Middle School, Pensacola High School, Escambia High School and Woodham Middle School. Rocker also calls for certification revocation for six people in the school district, including former Superintendent Jim Paul, Deputy Superintendent Norm Ross, Assistant Superintendent Dr. Allan Scott and three others.
“The past leadership of Escambia County must leave, now, under the Jim Paul bigotry team, SCLC is requesting new leadership, new staffing and revocation of all participants licenses,” Rocker wrote in his email to the media. “These people should not be allowed to oversee students, parents or staff.”
The SCLC plans to hold a press conference today to further explain their position and their letter to the state’s education commissioner.
Comments
32 Responses to “Teacher Disciplined For Using Racial Slur; SCLC Says N-word Is Problem In Escambia Schools”
You cannot make enough laws to stop the use of this word. The only way to stop it is for everyone to STOP BEING OFFENDED by it. When you stop being offended, you will take away the reason/desire to use it. It’s as simple as that.
Deaf ears your analogy is incorrect. Cracker Barrel , in the context of it’s name is not a racial slur because it is describing an object. … In this case a container for biscuits in bygone days. Cracker as a slur does not have anything to do with the saltine it is a reference to an old practice of cracking the whip in slavery days. We learn something new everyday , dont we.
Regardless of anyone’s feelings on the subject or what group of people the “N” word refers to the fact of the matter is that using the word is inappropriate in the workplace (if not inappropriate everywhere). I can’t believe someone would send an e-mail to a superior like that. It makes it even worse that it is a teacher – someone that should be accepting of all racial backgrounds and ethnicities.
To Be for real and anyone else who did not understand my post; you seem to confirm my opinion about there being a racial bias in America (at least this part of America). I know the cracker barrels were named by white people, that was the point!! Why is it ok for anyone to use hurtful words? Does it make it OK because a black person says “Niger” does it make it OK because a white person says “cracker” does it make it OK for an Asian to say “gook”? Change it around now, and have each group call another the names listed? Do you see where I was going with this? Perhaps I did not make it clear before. Why is it OK for a race to use a condescending and hurtful name against their own race? Why do we tolerate that but not when the names are used against another race? This is a double standard. If people do not like this practice simply stop using those words. Legally, it is not a crime to use those words. There is a difference between what is legal and what is right. If a person accidentally throws away a $100 bill in their trash, and then takes the trash out to the street for pick up, and then someone walking by notices the $100 bill, and takes it, even if the person who accidentally threw it away is right next to the can, this act is not illegal, is it wrong to do? In my opinion yes it is, but not illegal. Trash is public domain and anyone can take it. This does not make it right. Just because something is not illegal to do, or in this case say, does not make it right to do or say, by or to anyone! I hope this explains my point of view better as I think many people did not understand
The “N” word does not point its finger at any one race..It describes the black, white, hispanic, and other.. It’s all in the way that you carry yourself and the way you act in certain situations..Some people use this word to describe BLACKS because it is a word that came from slavery.. Others (ALL RACES) simply use it to show the world their IGNORANCE..
First of all i am not a racist.And no i do not use the N word.That word is not in my vocabulary and nor do i teach my kids to say that word.I wasnt raised to be racist i was raised to love they neighbor.It is just sad that we live in a word that people still use the n word as a harmful as she did.Yes,it should have been know public, so that people their can know what type of teacher she is .Any one with common since know that they would be offended if this were their daughter,mother,son,father brother or friend.That was just wrong what she did and nothing anyone can say can make it be right. If it was okay the school would not be investigating the issue.The issue would be dropped.My point of the matter and why cant we all just get along. I work with whites,blacks,hispanis etc and i would never disrespect them in that manner. I look at them as a human being not by the color of their skin and if they needed by help for anything i would lend a helping hand.I can tell that amg is racist by the note he or she left on this blog but i am not the type to call name or hit below the belt.SO if you want to show your true color that fine with me..We all need to realize that everyone should be respected no matter what…
Was the janitor written up for being a lazy , useless employee?
No matter what always be the better person, thats what makes the difference between lost souls and decent people.
If you want to here the “N” word just listen while you are in the parking lots and it is not the Caucasin race that blast it out. Go to a place to eat and try to have a nice time out and you here MF this and MF that , songs blasting it going down the roads and streets. What a world
Many folks are very tired of all this pettiness. If someone calls me a “honky,” I just laugh. It is a funny sounding word, and does not bother me, because I know who I am. That’s what we all need to know……..who we are. No one can change who you are with a word. You are who you are. What is the problem now? If the nonsense would stop we could move on to better things. We now have a black president, a champion black boxer, football players, baseball players, basket ball players, and champion golfer. He’s good looking too. I hate the “F” word more than any word I know, but am forced to hear it or read it or see it daily. This became rampant after integration. So, why don’t you black dissenters clean up your act, and make a difference? You are the only one that can change you. It is a choice. God will help you if you make the right choice. Please quit yelling “discrimination” at every turn. Please. It is becoming more and more irritating. And, you are defeating your own selves. I have never hurt or been unkind to a black person since I was 3 years old and was disrespectful to my nanny. And I was disciplined for that. My mother taught me from a very young age (three) that God made us all, and that we should never “judge a book by its cover.” My grandmother and grandfather may have thought or acted in a unsavory way, but I cannot help what my ancestors did. I didn’t do those things. In fact, when I was 21, my grandmother slapped my face for standing up to her when she said she never wanted me to refer to a n—-r woman as “a lady” ever again. That hurt me in all three ways. It still hurts. But I do not hate her and I do not hate you. Please make a difference for the good of all. Let it begin with you. Please.
Atmore, can I have every black person at Wal-Mart that screams out “M.F.” fined? Jails would be overflowing into the rivers and lakes if they fined every person who insulted someone not mentioning that it is ridiculous. Even thoug my 4 year old asked what a m%$#^r F&^%$r was. I almost died.
Doesn’t God teach forgiveness? Let it go, you hold on too tightly to the acts and thoughts of others. Blacks leaders stood proud in the 60’s to give you the chance to do things unimaginable before. Quit whining and do something productive with your mind. Turn that negative into a positive.
Why is it that I can be in a public place and ill-mannered blacks scream and yell “n” at each other in the presence of children and that be O.K.? Why, because we have a double standard in this country. I am 35 years old and raised in Gulf Breeze in a family that held no discriminate thoughts against anyone of any color or creed. It wasn’t until I moved from 99.9% white G.B. to Mobile that my thoughts changed.
Many, not all, young blacks in Mobile ooze ignorant behavior and arrogance. You are expected to move out of their way as they purposely walk toward you in a show of force, as if I had anything to do with slavery. These punks that OOZE this ignorant behavior are NOT in the 35+ category. They are the younger generation that are really giving the black community a bad name.
I am tired of being force fed that I had anything to do with the troubles facing the urban black community. Let me also say that the “redneck” youth in Mobile are just as bad. But they do not blame anyone for their ignorance. Who would have ever thought that inbred rednecks would think it is cool to “act black”? But that is what the media (MTV) and pop culture is force feeding our children. That it is cool to act thuggish and intimidating.
Of course the behavior of the school staff is way out of line and the system should be sued if they had knowledge of this happening and did not instantly fire any employee guilty of these acts. That kind of behavior will never be acceptable, the 1800’s were over 109 years ago. But I will say that everytime someone makes a comment that can be taken personally, somebody sues. That kind of nonsense, the abuse of the legal system, does just as much harm as outright racism. It teaches people to be thin skinned.
Have a listen to “ANY” black comedian. You will hear that “n” word come out of their mouth at least every other sentence. It is common for blacks to call each other “my N” . But let a white person say it and this is what happens.
And as for ATMORE your quote
“.we are the one who took care and nurse the white man babies,,we are the one they fed them,,(garden) we are the ones that clean their homes and were beaten and given nothing”
You sound more racist and angry than anyone. Get over it. YOU didn’t do any of those things. Is that what you teach your kids?
deaf ears not “DEF”, are you serious? You just went way out there on that one.
First of all white people own and named cracker barrels. So you take that up with the white person who named it and as far as the rest of what you said its just so stupid I just don’t even feel like going there with you. Just say no.
david leroy moorer
do you know what a quote is? obviously not.
TO THE OWNER OF THIS SITE. WHY ARE YOU LETTING PEOPLE USE RACIST
REMARKS.(amg).
Atmore believe me we all know that “N’s are here to stay.” So, with this new law of yours, will all the “N’s” that use the “N’ word be arrested also? That’s a great idea. Your really smart.
Well , Mrs . Dicken’s Is My Teacher . I Can Not Believe She Would Say Something This Disrespectful . I Know The Janitor But I Forgot His Name But , He Is A Very Nice Guy To Be Around With , He Is A Loving Person And Not Even One Bit Mean . I Hope She Gets Sued . And Yes She IS My Teacher , Im Not Lieing .
Psalm 119:165
Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them.
As time moves forward you would think people would have grown past some of the things that makes the world a bad place in which to live. Blacks especially have been oppressed ,hated , abused ,slain and kept with a foot on our neck since the beginning of time. Why ? God knew exactly what he was doing when when he made races of of all walks of life. He said it in his words , how can you love me whom you’ve never seen and hate your brotheren whom you see daily?
The God I serve is love , then those of you who yhink you’re going walk through the pearly gates with hatred in your heart for a black or any race, think again ! The N word is a very offensive term, and it hurts more than a double edge sword.If every time this word was spoken in public and enough fines issued maybe it would stop . I’m afraid the world will end with this hatred just as it begun with it and thats a very sad thing.
SO, IT’S OKAY FOR SOME RACIST TO TEACH OUR KIDS. MR. ROCKER DIDN’T
MAKE THIS PUBLIC ,THE TEACHER DID.
quote from “ATMORE”
“SO IF SHE DOES NOT HAVE THE HEART TO WORK WITH DIFFERENT RACE SHE NEEDS TO FINE A JOB THAT ONLY HAS HER COLOR”
Atmore, I think this was already done before, you didn’t like it then either…
This “Art Rocker” is the guy who made it public, if anyone gets “offended” then it is his fault. If he is sooo concerned with someone using the n word then why didn’t he keep that email private? He wanted to make a big deal about it with the news media. They never flinch at using Jesus Christ name in vain or G D ing every thing or using the f word, thats ok in a school, we all know that and have heard it with the kids and teachers and administrators all too often but God forbid someone gets frustrated at an incompetent janitor and uses the n word. Have we raised them up to be gods or something? Not me!
i am deeply sadden i send my kids to school everyday knowing his or her teacher have neagatively racial thoughts about them havent we learn by now our kids black and white an biracial can grow and not be faced with neagatively like this especially by educators teaching our kiids rights and responsibilities AND IT SHOULD BE USE CORRECTLY
century person..yes you are right we do have some black people that say the n word and i feel the same way about them. i stated some people need to be jailed for some of things that they say regarding the n word..now take that how you want it but they are alot of white people that are bold and say it and you have some that are cowards and say it behind your back..regarding no one should be called a black or white anything ..thats the reason why we are all fighting one another of a color…no one is perfect and for the black people..we are the one who took care and nurse the white man babies,,we are the one they fed them,,(garden) we are the ones that clean their homes and were beaten and given nothing..so yes i am offended that anyone (teacher)that is in charge of any person would stand so bold to send a email to some one like that…if the shoe was on the other foot it would be a whole big mess..their are loving caring black,white, mexican,hispanic etc people out in the world that would love to have her job and cant find one ..so who has kids would want this person over their kids..black or white…her judgement wasnt only poor who showed what type of persons he really is
Those with no sin cast the first stone.
deaf ears ,u miss the whole point do u c any of those places calling any one white names ? i think you have think before you comment..
It is sad to say but, the most I ever hear the ” N ” word is from the black people that I know. Now is it right for the black person to say it out loud and not ok for the white person. That is discrimination all the way no questions about it. It is sad that the black people use this as a weapon against whites and other races because a black person didn’t say it. So ATMORE we should put the black people in jail too that say the “N” word. Be careful what you wish for ATMORE. Don’t have enough jails in this country to hold everyone that insults somebody with name calling every day.
Atmore, I here MFand FU said in public all the time. This doesn’t make it right for the teacher to say these things ,but it is called freedom of speech. People can’t be locked up for saying these things. They have a right to say them, no matter how bad they are. It seems to me that I here the word n used a lot when working around some African Americans. Doesn’t make it right, but under the constitution they have that right. Because something makes you mad doesn’t make it against the law. She used bad judgement and should be punished, just like a lot of others, black and white, because no one side has a lock on racism, they are both quilty.
Lets just change everything and do it as of yesterday because in the real world things like this don’t happen. Right? I am saddened that 1 janitor ,oh, I mean 1 Sanitation worker, or is it 1 Custodial engineer, or what ever the politically correct name for the job is this week is offended or had their feelings hurt. I guess the fact that no law was violated or no crime was committed justifies the reaction from the community that this employee should loose their job. If we do everything like this and follow that logic then I guess the cracker barrel will have to change their name now as that is a racial slur. why is it ok to offend whites and nothing is ever done but if 1 black is offended everybody needs to stop and apologize? Do the whites have an entire white only TV channel? Like BET? Are their award shows for only the white entertainers? Like the Black movie awards, the Black Reel Awards, the BTAA (black theater alliance awards) and many others. America seems to collectively accept the practice of offending and discriminating whites but not the other races in America. If the whites in America did any of the things I listed above the NAACP and the ACLU would be out for blood. I guess when the “N” word becomes illegal use in America something can be done, in the mean time I guess I will just sit back and watch Oprah open another school some where, and only allow blacks to attend. Why do we tolerate this?
Sometimes we don’t want to see, but seeing the hearts of the people allow you to understand the people you hurt. Individuals who have had to live with such negative comments continues to live in pain. Never to hear the words that they hoped to hear. To hear and see the changes taking place bring about healing to a multiitude of people. Can we establish a committee to develop workshops on understanding negative communications through culture differences?
I AM A BLACK FEMALE AND ME OR MY HUSBAND WOULD HAVE SOME ONE TEACH OUR KIDS THAT SAID SOMETHING LIKE THAT.SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE ABOUT HER. IF THIS MAN HAD SAID WHITE TRASH ETC,HE WOULD BE UNEMPLOYED,SO WHY DOES SHE STILL HAVE A JOB..HOW DOES ANYONE WANT HER TO TEACH THEIR KIDS UNLESS THEY HAVE THE SAME HEART AS HERS..IT MAKES ME SAD AND MAD TO KNOW THAT WE LIVE IN A WORLD-HOW BAD IT IS- AND STILL HAVE PEOPLE TO DO AND SAY STUPID THINGS LIKE THAT -THE PERSON WAS NOT DOING THEIR JOB,,THE NAME CALLING DID NOT HAVE TO BE INVOLVED,IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN STATED IN A DIFFERENT MANNER,,I HOPE WHO EVER THIS N IS THAT HE SUE THE BOARD IF THEY DONT GET RID OF HER,,THIS IS JUST UNACCEPTABLE ON ANY WORK PLACE,,THE COMMNUNITY,CITY,AND OTHER WORKERS SHOULD STICK BEHIND THIS CUSTODIAN, NOT ONLY THE BLACK WORKERS BUT EVERYONE THAT IS NOT PREJUDICE,,,THE FUNNY PART ABOUT THE WHOLE SITUATION IS THAT PEOPLE DONT REALIZE THAT GOD CREATED US ALL AND FOR THOSE THAT DONT REALIZE IT,US N ARE HERE TO STAY, SO IF SHE DOES NOT HAVE THE HEART TO WORK WITH DIFFERENT RACE SHE NEEDS TO FINE A JOB THAT ONLY HAS HER COLOR AND BELIEVE IN WHAT SHE BELIEVES IN..SOME ONE PLEASE PUSH THIS ISSUE SO THE NEXT WHITE PERSON WILL KNOW THAT N WORD IS NOT A JOKE–SOME OF THESE PEOPLE THAT SAY RACIAL SLURS SHOULD BE ARRESTED. THE LAW SHOULD MAKE A EXAMPLE OUT OF THEM,,