To the Girls From Desert Vista High School Posing in This Photo,
What the hell is wrong with you?
I’m not the only person asking this after your picture surfaced on the internet, but really, what the hell is wrong with you?
You smiled and posed in an awful picture, and now I have a question to pose to you: How on Earth did all six of you seem to think this was A) a good idea, B) something even remotely funny and C) something worth posting ON THE INTERNET? I cannot fathom what was going through your brains, all six of your brains, ones I know are well educated, seeing as I spent four years at the same school roughly 15 years ago.
Last weekend, I was in Phoenix for my sister’s baby shower, and drove past Desert Vista High School where I graduated in 2002; a school where I was taught by many fine educators. I learned about the U.S. government from Mr. Kemp my senior year. I was lit up in Ms. Kyle’s Freshman English class in 1999. She taught me the art of structural writing, and to love the written word. Principal McDonald roamed the hallways, said hello to students, and signed my high school diploma. Each one of them contributed to my education, and each one of them is African American.
I drove home to San Diego on Monday the 18th, Martin Luther King Jr. Day. You know, the day you didn’t have to attend school as it’s a federal holiday in Martin Luther King, Jr.’s name, to honor a man who protested against racial discrimination? The man who fought for civil rights for an oppressed minority, and was subsequently assassinated for doing so in 1968?
As I drove down Pecos Road towards the I-10 freeway, I explained to my young daughter that one of the last turns off Pecos Road was where I went to high school. That was where I’d made best friends, prepared for University and spent some of the best years of my life. She smiled and asked what high school was like, what my friends’ names were, and who my favorite teacher was.
I reminisced about those friends, many I’m still in contact with to this day, whose children light up my Facebook feed each day. I thought of teachers who heavily impacted my life, who I still periodically reach out to, like my all time favorite teacher, Mr. Munczek.
I thought about hours spent in math lab, repeating Geometry in summer school, my first Nokia cell phone, prom, my first car (a Toyota Corolla that I decked out in zebra print everything), winter formal, my first boyfriend, and finally, about my graduation day. Four years of memories flooded my brain, and as I exhaled and made my way onto the I-10 South, I smiled.
You girls would have had the same memories down the line. One day you would drive past Desert Vista High School with your children in the backseat. You would be reminded of all the amazing friends you’d made, the smell of the cafeteria, and how you always pined to have the same lunch hour as the rest of your friends. You’d remember your homeroom teacher, friends that hurt you and your favorite teachers. You’d remember your first boyfriend; you’d likely remember your first heartbreak.
You’d have the same memories that I have now, but after yesterday, you won’t.
You will forever be branded as “the six girls who spelled out hate speech during the senior photo” and “the girls who were only suspended for 5 days.”
At first, I was angry at the rumored 5 day suspension as punishment. Then, I quickly realized your actions will follow you for the rest of your life, and I’m quite certain that’s worse. Perhaps no suspension at all would be better, so you six can face your peers Monday morning and see the looks on their faces, and the irreparable damage you caused.
You went viral girls, you sure did- in the worst possible way.
I pray for your sake you recognize what an astronomical error you have made, and the continuing impact it will have on your young lives. There is no excuse at seventeen/eighteen years of age to justify the actions you took. Friday, January 22, 2016 will more likely be the day etched in your memory and in the memories of every other person making up your class than the actual Class of 2016 Graduation Day, which is quite sad.
A fun senior picture spelling out: “Best*You’ve*Ever*Seen*Class*Of*2016,” you managed to, unfortunately, negate for nearly your entire graduating class. I’m hopeful many will see past the actions of six thoughtless individuals, and be able to recognize the remainder of your class for their four years of hard work. Furthermore, I hope your incredibly heartless actions teach you many lessons. Foremost, I hope you recognize your hate speech, actions, and internet posting did not just affect you, they affected your whole class, your community, your city, and your state.
I hope from this negative image, true character develops. A picture is worth a thousand words, but all that’s left to say is that you’ve disappointed and embarrassed countless individuals, myself included. We might have come from the same place, but you six have a long way to go yet.
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it’s so disappointing to see that they think something like this is funny. i still don’t understand how degrading another race–ESPECIALLY when racial tensions are so high–seems like the right thing to do.
Yep. They made the senior photo about them. And in the worst way possible.
It’s telling that there is no apology or remorse from any of the girls or their parents. They learned it somewhere – now we know where.
Icky. That’s awful. What would even make them think that’s funny?
This is so sad. That those girls could think there was nothing wrong in doing this makes me fearful of the future. However, I would love to know what their parents think. Hate isn’t something you’re born with. I’m not saying their parents are too blame but it has to come from some where. I spent most of my life in Phoenix and it already is a state that gets looked down on. This is just one more thing to make a beautiful place look bad.
It’s unfortunate that these young ladies saw fit to commit such an offensive act. Unfortunately, this is the direct result of kids that are over privileged and under educated. They need to tech real history in schools . They’re only sorry because they’re actions were publicly frowned upon by their parents and peers. And they got caught . Everyone is sorry when they get caught , I’m not buying it . Where are the other 5 girls ???There isn’t a White Student Union, because African Americans, Hispanics, Asians and any other race other than Caucasian are considered the minority. Therefore, when you see a television commercial, 9 times out of 10, there’s no one depicted in that commercial that a minority can relate to. The world caters to white America and that’s the truth . When you open a magazine, there’s normally no one in that magazine that a minority can relate to. When you watch a normal television sit com or drama series, 9 times out of 10, there is no one on the show that a minority can relate to. When I go into Wal-mart or Target Walgreens or any other store I have to buy hair products or makeup especially for African American Women or women of color; the choices are slim to none. However, a Caucasian woman has shelves and shelves of choices and rows and rows of product to choose from. I’m merely stating the facts so no one should get offended. If you’re honest with yourselves, you’d admit to these truths. Therefore, channels such as BET exist and magazines such as Vogue Italia exist….to relate to an audience other than Caucasians so that we can have something to appreciate and relate to as well. We have to Design things for us so that our children can something to relate to . Because if you don’t they won’t have nothing .SMH????#realtalk#????
#theuglytruth