Virginia Beach High School Is Exposed For Unchecked Racism

Parents of Black students at Kellam High School say racism is prevalent and often overlooked after racist harassment was reported in a letter sent out to the school community last Thursday.  

According to the letter, a student received racist harassment from a group of other students at Kellam. The matter is said to be fully investigated and that “students involved will be disciplined to the fullest extent possible.” 

Some parents still believe their students’ needs will be forgotten and brushed aside. 

“Racism at Kellam has been going on for so long, I was happy someone finally took initiative to stand up for what's right and acknowledge what our African American children go through on a regular basis at Kellam High School,” said Malani Unique, who’s son is a freshman at Kellam. 

Unique says that Kellam has had similar situations occur that have even affected her own child. Kellam has a reputation for dealing with racism that has been going on for many years without any solutions or repercussions she says.

“My child has experienced racism several times where a child has called him ‘a cotton picking n-word’ as well as a group of children bringing watermelon and chicken to school, and writing racial slurs on paper and handing it to our black children,” said Unique. 

A former Kellam student says that during her time there from 2016 to 2020, there were numerous racist incidents, but not much was done about it by staff or others. 

“Someone said the N-word in a class that I was in and all that happened was the teacher told him that it was not ok,” said Chikama Amatobi, a 2020 Kellam High School graduate.

In other instances while Amatobi was a student at Kellam, her former friends would make racist jokes behind her back and send “uncomfortable” videos to one of her friends with nothing being done after they reported it other than a warning. 

“I had friends who left Kellam because they couldn’t handle the racism or just wanted more diversity,” said Amatobi. 

In the letter sent out Thursday, Kellam said, “This behavior is not representative of the Kellam High School community,” and that they “continue to counsel and educate our students about creating a safe and welcoming learning environment for all students and staff.”

Former students and parents of students in attendance currently, feel as though this is not the case. 

“The teachers and staff at Kellam are only acting concerned because it was reported to the news,” said Unique.

A week before the situation was reported, Unique received a phone call telling her to speak with her child and let him know that if he spoke about any situations, charges would be pressed by the parents of the accused children. 

“Kellam has been treating the Black children as if they are the ones in the wrong,” said Unique. “They even went as far as suspending my child and a few other children for standing up to their bullies about racism,” she said. 

Many feel Kellam has not been handling racism with tact it should, and want changes to be made. 

“They need to enforce the rules on racism more and be more proactive in teaching these kids against it and bullying,” said Amatobi.

Per LA School Report