High school teen exposes students' racist group chat that discussed shooting, killing black babies but feels 'hurt' that authorities took no action
An African-American high school student, who exposed a group chat where several white students were seen engaging in disturbing and racist discourse now faces threat from the greater community as school officials took no action against the concerned people.
Cenayia Edwards, 14, a black student at East Wake High School in Wendell, came to know about the chat group from some of her friends and in order to verify the allegations, changed her avatar to a white face and gained access to the group.
She discovered that the member of the group included two students from her school and five from Corinth Holders High School in Johnston County. The violent rhetoric in the group included using hashtags like "BringSlaveryBack," as well as holding discussions on "pulling triggers and shooting" black people, killing black babies and frequent use of the N-word. Edwards’ mother, Cecelia Edwards, said her daughter interrupted the chat and was met with vitriol. One person responded to the confrontation with a meme of a sheriff penguin calling Edwards a slur and telling her to shut up.
Many of the conversations happened when the members of the group were attending classes in their respective high schools. After Edwards told her family about the group, they brought it to the attention of East Wake High School, Newsweek reported.
However, an investigation was conducted by the school officials who came to the conclusion that the students involved in the chat were not in violation of any district policies. As a result, no suspensions were to be issued.
East Wake principal Stacey Alston said that although the responsible students will not be punished, their behavior "is not acceptable." Instead, Alston has promised the school will offer opportunities for “constructive dialogue” about racial issues. Meanwhile, Johnston County school officials said the principal “issued consequences” and parents were notified.
"Comments of this nature do not reflect our values. Moreover, they are damaging to both our school and our society as a whole," Alston said. "In the near future, we will be offering opportunities for constructive dialogue among our students, staff and families about racial issues."
He added: "These discussions have the potential to be difficult and emotional. But I am confident that we at East Wake High School have the maturity, the wisdom and, most importantly, the strength of character to engage in these conversations with one another thoughtfully and amicably."
Edwards's family said that they were worried about the safety of their daughter after the members of the chat group were not punished. "This is a threat to a whole community of people, not just to one person," Cenayia Edwards's father, Corderro Edwards said. "For Wake County to not move and take action on this, it is not acceptable."
The messages made Edwards’ family concerned for her safety, and the school’s response left Edwards wanting. “I believed in my school to take the right actions toward this, but it was evident that they did not,” she said. “This situation has definitely hurt me and opened my eyes to a lot of things.”