Black Honor Student Called N-Word and Suspended for Five Days - Special Guest: John C. Barnette of T.H.U.G

Black Teen Empowerment Radio 10-11-2009


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We discussed the so-called student achievement gap and the factors involved that are not always taken into account. There is a need to address environmental issues in urban areas like the fact that HUD estimates that about 24 million homes still had significant lead-based paint hazards in October 2008. Lead exposure can lead to a variety of health problems in young children, including reduced IQ, learning disabilities, developmental delays, reduced height, and impaired hearing. There are also economical issues for families living in poor communities where the schools are not provided with all the resources they need to successfully educate disadvantaged communities.


We were joined by John C. Barnette of True Healing Under God (T.H.U.G) and a member of the NAACP and the Rev Al sharpton's National Action Network. T.H.U.G is holding a press conference in Dallas, NC at North Gaston High School on Monday October 12, 2009 at 10AM Est and asking fellow North Carolinians to join them.

Devante Long ia an honor student at North Gaston High School and was suspended for five days after he got into a heated argument with a group of white male students who saw Devante wearing a t-shirt with President Obama's picture on it and at which point one the students said "'look at this nigger wearing this shirt.'"

Earlier that morning someone hoisted a Confederate flag up the school's flagpole. The white male students all were wearing Confederate flag shirts. Read More

The Black Talk Radio Network is asking its members to email and call the North Gaston High School Principle and the Gaston County superintendent in support of Devante Long. The days when Black people should be expected to remain silent while being verbally assaulted by racist White people are over and it should be made clear that Devante is the victim and he should not be punished for standing up for his human dignity.

It was reported that perhaps North Gaston is taking the view that an Obama t-shirt caused the disruption. Anyone with any kind of sense should know that a t-shirt depicting a positive image of the President of the United States is not the cause of the disruption but the racist opposition to President Obama is the basis of the white students verbal attack on Devante Long is what caused the disruption.

According to www.WBTV.com: Long and his family met with the superintendent Friday. They say he told them he would let them know on Monday whether Devante's suspension would be revoked or not.


Please voice your support for the Long family in this matter!
Gaston County Superintendent Reeves McGlohon

rmcglohon@gaston.k12.nc.us
Phone: 704-866-6111
Fax: 704-866-6321

North Gaston High School Principle Brent Boone

BrentBoone@gaston.k12.nc.us
Phone: 704-922-5285
Fax: 704-922-7486

Please keep calling, emailing and faxing everyday until we get Justice for honor student Devante Long. It is important that you be civil in your discourse as being confrontational will lessen the chances of successfully bringing this to a favorable resolution for Devante.

We will continue to keep you updated on this story.

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