Saying Obama's Name, Apparently a No-No

Tuesday's Presidential election stirred up excitement as a surge of emotion swept across the nation. The moment the polls were closed and Barack Obama was named the President-elect, footage could be seen all over the country of people hugging each other, smiling, and shedding tears over this momentous occasion. Let's not forget the innumerous times the clip of a teary-eyed Oprah Winfrey, a huge Obama supporter, leaning on a stranger was played. Journalists buzzed for days inquiring about his identity and Oprah appeased their curiosities by bringing the mystery man, Sam Perry to her show on Friday.

But, while millions of Obama supporters are still celebrating this historic event it appears that there's been some backlash brewing from the opposition's end. Last week Thursday, students were threatened by school staff for saying Obama's name. In separate incidents, Pearl Junior High's students alleged that a bus driver and a coach threatened them with punishment for saying Barack Obama's name.

Parents, clearly disturbed by these incidents contacted the WAPT news studio in Pearl, Mississippi. The incidents became public when WAPT released the story. Some kids were told that they would be written up and taken to the principal's office, while other students were threatened with suspension from school. Both a school bus driver and a girl's basketball coach were implicated in these incidents.

One student, Reginald Simpson, spoke about the incident stating that kids on the bus started saying, "Obama is our president." That is when the bus driver stated that she didn't want to hear his name and based on Simpson's account another student replied, "This is history woman." It was then that the bus driver stopped the bus and kicked both Simpson and the other student off the bus. Simpson who is black and the other student who is white were later taken to their own school after waiting at a local high school. Both families plan to confront school officials about the incident. Also, the coach of the girl's basketball team warned students that they'd be suspended if they uttered Obama's name.

These incidents weren't the only ones in Mississippi. Based on The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Mississippi innumerous reports were received throughout the state from parents and students. It appears that several complaints have been filed following Tuesday's election alleging that the students' right to free speech has been violated.

Pearl Schools Superintendent John Ladner stated that school officials reviewed the video from the bus and the complaints surrounding both incidents. Disciplinary action has been taken against the school's bus driver and coach. Parents and students were reassured that no punishment or action would be taken against the kids for speaking about the president-elect. Ladner released the following statement: "It appears that some persons, out of disappointment and disillusionment with the election may have been so frustrated that they said something inappropriate to students. We have taken appropriate steps with the bus driver and the coach."

Tuesday's election demonstrated America's capacity to rise above the color lines that divides us. The fact that America's next President is black demonstrates that we have come a long way historically. Yet, the Mississippi junior high school incidents reminds us just how much further we still have to go.

Sources: http://www.wapt.com/video/17928161/index.html