School apologizes after Indiana student listed as ‘Black Guy’ in yearbook

The school called the incident an "error."

Oct 22, 2020

An Indiana high school has a lot of explaining to do.

Brown County High School is under fire for referring to a Black student in its yearbook photo as, ‘Black Guy,’ per WRTV. The school released a statement calling the situation, “a truly reprehensible error,” said superintendent Dr. Laura Hammack and high school principal Matthew Stark on Monday.

“We acknowledge that yearbook is the only class at this school where all assignments and homework are published for all to see, we strive for perfection and hope any errors are minor and inconsequential. This is not an inconsequential error.”

The school claims they are investigating the situation and working with the student’s family to rectify the situation.

“Our district has been working to advance equity and inclusion for all protected classes; however, an occasion like this evidences the need for expanded response,” the statement reads. “We are committed to ensuring that Brown County Schools provide a welcoming, safe, inclusive, and equitable school community. We remain relentless in our pursuit of the same,” per the statement.

Photos of the botched yearbook have been posted online where “Black Guy” can be read amongst a plethora of names of what looks like the boys basketball team.

Hammack took to Facebook Live to address the situation further on the Brown County Schools – superintendent page.

This news comes on the heels of a Maryland teacher finding a noose hanging from the ceiling in her classroom. According to the New York Daily News, a student-created the noose during a science class for a pulley system from rope assignment.

The student, whose information was not released, apparently also made a “an offhand comment,” to other students about the rope.

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