KKK POSTER FOR "TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD" PLAY STIRS DEBATE
GREENFIELD, Ind.- Imagine walking into a school lobby and finding a poster with a Ku Klux Klan member and a burning cross.
A mom posted the picture on Facebook. The school is Greenfield Central High School. The picture of the poster on Facebook caused a big stir.
The school says the poster is not what it might seem from first glance. It's actually a poster promoting a play about the evils of racism.
"It must come down," said the mom who posted the picture of the poster, which she said is the first thing people see when walking into the school.
Steve Bryant, the principal of Greenfield Central High School, said seeing the poster out of context can be misleading.
"If you move beyond that banner, there were several other banners that depicted (Martin Luther King Jr.’s) movement in the 60s," Bryant said.
He said what is not obvious from the picture of the poster on the Facebook page is that it is promoting the school play, “To Kill a Mockingbird,” based on the 1960 Harper Lee Pulitzer Prize-winning book taking aim at racism.
"We didn't clean things up,” said Ted Jacobs, director of theater at the high school. “We didn't sanitize anything. Because you know what, the things that are in this play really happened."
The student actors say the posters are part of the overall dramatic experience.
"If they come to our play, they'll find the message and that should overlap whatever shock came from that banner, said Brody Irwin, one of the student actors.
Principal Bryant points out that “To Kill A Mockingbird” is on the eighth grade reading list, and pictures of the KKK are in approved Indiana textbooks. The principal also said that the banners were displayed only on days when the play was in production. Still, he says he understands how seeing that picture alone could create controversy.
"I guess, what I would say to that parent or parents, is, ‘Please come in and dialogue with us. Talk to us. Have a meeting with us. Come in and see the play,’" he said.
Ironically, all of the publicity surrounding the poster has given renewed interest in the play. Instead of ending after Tuesday’s showing to students, an extra showing has been scheduled Thursday evening. The superintendent's office was contacted to find out if she stands by the principal, the posters and the play. She does.
A mom posted the picture on Facebook. The school is Greenfield Central High School. The picture of the poster on Facebook caused a big stir.
The school says the poster is not what it might seem from first glance. It's actually a poster promoting a play about the evils of racism.
"It must come down," said the mom who posted the picture of the poster, which she said is the first thing people see when walking into the school.
Steve Bryant, the principal of Greenfield Central High School, said seeing the poster out of context can be misleading.
"If you move beyond that banner, there were several other banners that depicted (Martin Luther King Jr.’s) movement in the 60s," Bryant said.
He said what is not obvious from the picture of the poster on the Facebook page is that it is promoting the school play, “To Kill a Mockingbird,” based on the 1960 Harper Lee Pulitzer Prize-winning book taking aim at racism.
"We didn't clean things up,” said Ted Jacobs, director of theater at the high school. “We didn't sanitize anything. Because you know what, the things that are in this play really happened."
The student actors say the posters are part of the overall dramatic experience.
"If they come to our play, they'll find the message and that should overlap whatever shock came from that banner, said Brody Irwin, one of the student actors.
Principal Bryant points out that “To Kill A Mockingbird” is on the eighth grade reading list, and pictures of the KKK are in approved Indiana textbooks. The principal also said that the banners were displayed only on days when the play was in production. Still, he says he understands how seeing that picture alone could create controversy.
"I guess, what I would say to that parent or parents, is, ‘Please come in and dialogue with us. Talk to us. Have a meeting with us. Come in and see the play,’" he said.
Ironically, all of the publicity surrounding the poster has given renewed interest in the play. Instead of ending after Tuesday’s showing to students, an extra showing has been scheduled Thursday evening. The superintendent's office was contacted to find out if she stands by the principal, the posters and the play. She does.
Shows how unready many of us remain to discuss racism. We talk about it with folks of similar race/ethnicity, but not openly.
Denise Turney
Author - Long Walk Up
Off The Shelf Radio
www.chistell.com