A high school mascot has led to a controversy in Monroe, NC, a town of 26,000 people. For nearly fifty years, Parkwood High School has used the “Rebel” as a mascot. However, community members say the mascot is offensive, and argue that it promotes the South’s fight for slavery during the Civil War.
This week, the Monroe chapter of the NAACP met to voice their concerns. They hope to pressure the school’s superintendent to change the mascot.