Black High School Security Guard Booted After Warning Black Student Not to Call Him The N-Word Gets Good News

Marlon Anderson. Screen grab via WFMY.
Marlon Anderson
Marlon Anderson. Screen grab via WFMY.

In a clear case of a zero tolerance policy running amok, a black security guard at a high school in Madison, Wisconsin was canned this week because he told a confrontational student to stop calling him the n-word.

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NBC News reports:

[Marlon] Anderson told NBC News on Friday that after a black student repeatedly called him a n—–, he asked the student last week to stop.

This week, Anderson said he learned that school officials terminated his employment, citing a zero tolerance policy on the use of derogatory language by staff members.

“My understanding of the policy was white staff shouldn’t use the N-word under any circumstances,” Anderson said. “But I had no idea me being called the word and me telling the student not to call me the word would get me fired.”
[…]
The school board president said officials would review the district’s policies.

“We’ve taken a tough stance on racial slurs, and we believe that language has no place in schools,” the board president, Gloria Reyes, said in a statement.

So the best approach to fighting racial slurs in school is to fire a black employee who used the word in the context of telling a black student not to call him that same word?

That. is. crazy.

Here’s an email that was sent from the school district to parents about what happened, noting an incident involving “a staff member using a racial slur with students.” It also stated that the staff member “will not” be returning to the school, and stipulates there are no exceptions to the rule:

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Fortunately for Anderson, there’s light at the end of the tunnel. After appealing the school’s decision, he had a temporary job offer. So now he’ll be able to earn a living while he awaits word on his appeal:

The Boys and Girls Clubs of Dane County offered a job to a security guard who was recently fired from his position as a security guard at Madison West High School.
[…]
“Marlon Anderson has an amazing track record working with local teens,” The Boys and Girls Clubs of Dane County said in a Facebook post. “We are pleased to welcome Marlon to this temporary position until his appeal is finalized by Madison Metropolitan School District.”

Thanks to the widespread outcry from students, staff, and the community, that appeals process is being expedited, which is great news.

Watch a video report from WFMY in which Anderson talks about his experience below:

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— Based in North Carolina, Sister Toldjah is a former liberal and a 16+ year veteran of blogging with an emphasis on media bias, social issues, and the culture wars. Read her Red State archives here. Connect with her on Twitter. –

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