In a shocking case of racial harassment, Hawkins County Schools in Tennessee has been accused of creating a racially hostile environment for its Black students. According to a recent investigation conducted jointly by the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Tennessee, the district’s failure to address complaints of racial harassment has led to a disturbing pattern of behavior that includes mock ‘slave auctions,’ repeated use of the N-word, and a ‘monkey of the month’ campaign to ridicule Black students.
Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division stated, ‘No student should endure mock slave auctions or racial slurs meant to invoke a shameful period in our country’s history when Black people were treated as subhuman.’
The investigation, which began in March 2023, found that the district’s response to complaints of racial harassment was inadequate and failed to protect the Constitutional rights of Black students. In a shocking revelation, the investigation revealed that despite some steps taken by the district to acknowledge the harassment, their response was insufficient to end the racist behavior.
The Justice Department’s findings led to a settlement agreement with Hawkins County Schools, which will implement significant reforms to address the racial harassment. The agreement includes hiring a compliance officer, retaining a consultant to support the district in implementing the agreement, creating a new electronic reporting portal, and updating its racial harassment and school discipline policies.
U.S. Attorney Francis M. Hamilton III for the Eastern District of Tennessee commended the Hawkins County Board of Education for cooperating in the investigation and working to improve its response to complaints of racial harassment and discrimination.
The agreement is a significant step towards protecting the civil rights of Black students in Hawkins County Schools. The Justice Department’s commitment to protecting the rights of all students is unwavering, and it will continue to work with the district to ensure that the reforms are implemented effectively.
Defendant: Hawkins County Schools
Criminal Charges: Racial Harassment
City and State: Rogersville, Tennessee
Exact Date: March 2023
Sentence or Outcome: Settlement Agreement
Dollar Amounts: $0 (no monetary damages specified)
Key Facts
- State: Tennessee
- Category: Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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