Brookline High Students Lip-Sync Racial Epithets, School Responds

BROOKLINE, MA —After a Snapchat video of white high school students lip-syncing to a song that repeats racial epithets, the school is looking into how to respond and is reminding students to consider how their actions may be perceived.

The video, which was obtained by Patch, shows three students, two girls and a guy, lip-syncing and dancing to artist YG's “Stop Snitchin.” When it was released earlier this year it was as commentary aimed at another artist, according to reviews. In the official music video YG portrays an enslaved man attempting to escape while other people enslaved thwarted his efforts. The video includes depictions of whipping, lynching and other violence.

In an email to families, the school's head Anthony Meyer said that several students shared the snap chat video of the students lip syncing to part of the lyrics that repeats racist and misogynisticlanguage, with deans and expressed concern Thursday. Students threatened to walk out in protest Monday if it was not addressed, several recent alumni told Patch.

Meyer said the video illustrated that the school and staff still had work to do to create a welcoming culture for everyone.

"[We] need to continue to reinforce our expectations about appropriate behavior and community norms to students clearly, frequently, and powerfully," he said.

Meyer said the school was supporting the students who alerted officials and others who have seen or been impacted by the video.

“Students need to consider intention and impact,” Anthony Meyer the head of school said in a letter to families. “We often hear of what young people were trying and not trying to do within a particular incident or event. They often do not understand that, regardless of intent, use of racist language affects individual students, staff, and our overall community.”

Meyer said it appeared the Snapchat video was made a while back and recently resurfaced. He said he didn't think the video was directed at anyone specifically, but Meyer said the content upset many Brookline students and could be upsetting to more and that the school was weighing consequences for those involved.

“High school students who make mistakes remain our students," he said. "As we explore consequences, it is also our responsibility as a school to keep reflection and amends-making part of the growth and learning within this challenging experience.”

Meyer reminded students and families that not all social media posts are private.

"As we see time and time again — from people of all ages — texts, images, and videos live on and often resurface," he said.

The full letter:

Dear Brookline High School Parents, Guardians, and Caregivers,
I wanted to make families aware that yesterday (Thursday 12/5) high school administrators learned of a concerning Snapchat video that includes a white BHS student, along with two other young people, lip-syncing to part of a “popular” song that uses racist and misogynistic language. It appears the video was made several months ago and recently has surfaced and circulated among some students. While we believe that this video is not directed at any particular student(s), we are clear that its content may be upsetting to many students in our school community.
We are still gathering and confirming information and determining appropriate next steps. For now, I wanted you to know the general scenario with which we are dealing so that we all have our ears to the ground and are in a position to support our students. While each family takes a particular approach to addressing an incident like this, I’d suggest the following general topics that deserve some attention at times like this:
Students need to consider intention and impact. We often hear of what young people were trying and not trying to do within a particular incident or event. They often do not understand that, regardless of intent, use of racist language affects individual students, staff, and our overall community.
At BHS, we do a great deal to directly address and educate on issues of racism, anti-Semitism, Islamophobia, homophobia, and many other forms of bias and discrimination. A very timely example of this work is next Tuesday’s Asking for Courage Day when we explore issues of race, ethnicity, and identity; build community and capacity for empathy; and inspire members of our community to take action or continue working toward positive change inside and outside of our classrooms and schools.
BHS and all of our staff need to continue to reinforce our expectations about appropriate behavior and community norms to students clearly, frequently, and powerfully. These efforts are essential for us to create and foster the school culture our students need and deserve.
Fortunately, students came to a trusted dean yesterday to share the video and their concerns. We are grateful for this and are supporting these students and others who have seen or been impacted by the video.
High school students who make mistakes remain our students. As we explore consequences, it is also our responsibility as a school to keep reflection and amends-making part of the growth and learning within this challenging experience.
Our students like to believe that Snapchat videos and other social media content disappears, is password protected, or otherwise safe from public revelation. As we see time and time again - from people of all ages - texts, images, and videos live on and often resurface.
I remain committed to communicating clearly and directly about events that affect our students, believing that it is critical for us to work together, school and home, to find learning and growth even within difficult episodes.
Sincerely,
Anthony
Anthony Meyer
Head of School
Brookline High School

Patch reporter Jenna Fisher can be reached at Jenna.Fisher@patch.com or by calling 617-942-0474. Follow her on Twitter and Instagram (@ReporterJenna).