A racist LeBron James poster created by a student in a New York junior high art class and displayed at a local arts festival has sparked an investigation by the New Hartford Central School District.
A racist LeBron James poster created by a student in a New York junior high art class and displayed at a local arts festival has sparked an investigation by the New Hartford Central School District.
The poster was meant to be a part of a fictional cereal box for "Monkey Premium Cereal" and featured a tagline that read, "Eat Monkeys, Jump Like Monkeys!" At the bottom of the poster, it read, "Jump like LeBron James" along with a picture of the Lakers star dunking.
The display was featured at the New Hartford Festival of the Arts on Saturday and immediately went viral after photos appeared online. It has since been removed from the festival.
Superintendent of Schools Cosimo Tangorra Jr. wrote in a letter to the community that the district was "disheartened" by the racist work and that it "was not only created, but then overlooked and allowed to be displayed."
"We understand that there are students, families, staff, and community members who may not feel safe, accepted, or welcome as a result of what transpired," Tangorra wrote. "Our school community deserves access to a supportive learning environment where everyone feels respected, included, and safe."
"We have fallen short of that goal, and we must do better. As a district, we will continue working to ensure all students and their families feel valued, and it requires increased education, dialogue, and action from the entire school community."
The student who made the poster and the staff members who oversaw its creation and display at the art show have been contacted, according to the Daily Sentinel.
James has not commented on the incident.
The investigation is ongoing.
The incident has sparked outrage and condemnation from many in the community, including the New Hartford NAACP.
"This is a clear example of racism and hate speech that has no place in our schools or our community," said New Hartford NAACP President Robert Robinson. "We call on the school district to take swift and decisive action to address this incident and to ensure that all students feel safe and respected."
The incident has also been condemned by the Anti-Defamation League (ADL).
"This is a clear example of anti-Black racism that has no place in our society," said ADL Regional Director Aaron Ahlquist. "We call on the school district to take immediate action to address this incident and to ensure that all students are safe and protected from racism."
The incident highlights the importance of addressing racism in schools and creating a safe and inclusive learning environment for all students.
"Racism is a systemic problem that we must all work to address," said Tangorra. "As a school district, we are committed to creating a school community where all students feel respected, included, and safe. We will continue working with our students, staff, and community members to address racism and to create a more just and equitable school district."
