Lawsuit: black teacher mocked with minstrel show photos by students
An Arizona teacher has filed a lawsuit against the Tempe Union High School District after students at Ahwatukee’s Desert Vista High School racially discriminated against her.
The suit, filed by Cobb in February, came after a student posted a video to a social media site the month before.
It shows another student walking up to Cobb and tapping her on the head with a laminated bathroom pass. “These children just had no respect for me or my authority,” said Cobb.
She said the online abuse is even worse. One post on Twitter suggests Cobb, who’s African-American, sign up for an all black dating site. Another post said,”I think I accidentally took Dr. Cobb’s class on black history, instead of junior English.”
And, then there’s a picture posted to Twitter which Cobb said is a minstrel or black face depiction of her. “The minstrel photo was absolutely sick,” she said. “Minstrel jokes were associated with my grandfather who was born in 1912 – that generation.”
Among the social media taunts is an image of Cobb, snapped by a student with the caption, “Dr. Cobb sighted working the corner.” The comment alluded to her being a prostitute.
Since Cobb filed the lawsuit, she says other students, some who she doesn’t even know have joined in on making fun of her online.
One twitter post accused Cobb of pulling the race card, while another shows a picture of a KKK meeting, with the caption “DV teacher meetings according to Dr. Cobb.”
Some parents have favorites some of the negative tweets. Due to the pending details of the case, the district would not comment.
Wow.
Shouldn’t school officials be taking a more active role in disciplining these students?
Does this case deserve something more than just a lawsuit?
Sound off below!
