South Orange, Maplewood Students Make Racist Instagram Posts: Reports

Students in South Orange and Maplewood may need lessons about the harmful effects a social media post can create.

Reports of two allegedly racist social media posts made by students in the South Orange-Maplewood School District have stirred up controversy among local parents and community members.

Earlier this week, two Columbia High School students reportedly posted an Instagram photo of themselves in what appears to be blackface makeup.

One of the students has their middle finger extended, and below the photo are the words: “Dude with his [expletive] ^^.”

See the Instagram post here.

The Maplewoodian.com reported that CHS Principal Elizabeth Aaron spoke to students on the CHS public address system on Wednesday and reminded them that social media postings are a reflection of themselves and CHS.

ANTI-SEMETIC INSTAGRAM POST

On Thursday, another Instagram faux pas was reported, this time allegedly propagated by students at South Orange Middle School.

The post reportedly featured swastikas surrounded by Stars of David, symbols of the Soviet Union, raised middle fingers and a photo of the collapse of the World Trade Center, set against a background of the rainbow flag, according to The Village Green.

Another post on a different account – which received 89 likes – depicted two students standing on what appears to be a porch, looking into the distance with a caption reading “views from the schwitz,” presumably a reference to Auschwitz, The Village Green reported.

PAST SOCIAL MEDIA ISSUES

The South Orange-Maplewood district has faced other recent challenges involving inappropriate social media posts reportedly involving students.

In November, school administrators at Columbia High School issued a Code Yellow alert when a student allegedly posted images and words related to an act of violence against the school on an unspecified social media page.

In a letter following the threat alert, Principal Elizabeth Aaron warned parents and staff about being alert about what their children post online.

“Please take time tonight to review safe social media practices with your students, remind them that references to guns, violence, or other crimes can elevate what they think may be a ‘harmless’ post to an issue that creates the conditions we had at CHS this morning. A comment or posting by a student or one that a student chooses to re-post may result in charges of making terroristic threats and can result in suspension or expulsion from school.”

• See related article: Columbia High School: Code Yellow Alert Was Result Of Social Media Post, Principal Says

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