Monroe, N.C.
The NAACP is pushing for Parkwood High School in Monroe to change its mascot because the organization says the Rebel is offensive and gives way to bullying.
“We feel that it is intimidating and harassing to some kids,”
said Nathel Hailey, of the NAACP.
A committee made up of parents, teachers and school administrators tried changing the mascot three years ago but a student survey showed an overwhelming 70 percent wanted to keep it. But the NAACP says the mascot doesn’t fairly represent all the students at Parkwood, a school where African-American students are the minority.
“I just cannot think of any positive connotation that comes out of the word Rebel,”
Parkwood parent Archie Hansley said.
Gerald Freeman, also the parent of a Parkwood student, says the mascot of nearly 50 years should not be changed because students already voted against it.
Two other schools, Monroe High and South Stanly High, changed their Rebel mascots at the request of the community, and Hansley says that’s what it’s going to take at Parkwood – the community, not the students, having its say.
“If we continue to go by the survey as it was done this year, I feel it will never change,” he said.
A Facebook Group has been created in favor of keeping the Rebel mascot the way it is. There are nearly 300 members, consisting of Parkwood students and alumni. The group posted on its page that “a Rebel by definition is to resist or rise against some authority, control or tradition” and that “you can be a rebel against anything.”
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Article and video courtesy of News 14.com.
MonroeScoop.com Monroe, North Carolina
I believe this is going too far! We have been Rebels for as long as I have ever known. My older brothers went to Parkwood. I have friends who are black and NOT offended by this. I am offended at this! Are you going to change Monroe High School’s mascot as well? Get something better to do. There are plenty of real prejudices in this world that need to be addressed and wasting time on this is seriously sad. I went to school and was in the band called the Rebel Regiment, both black and white members, WE ALL had a blast and had the sign that proved it, we fought through our music for people to know who the Rebel Regiment was! It is amazing how these things don’t become offensive until ONE person has issues with it. We, black and white, were and ARE proud to be called Rebels and NOT due to some “racial” undertones. All high school students rebel at something, even the best ones. Leave it alone!
When I graduated in 1979 our school was not devided by racism and we
(blacks and whites) were all proud to be Parkwood Rebels. Those of us
who played sports and even those who didn’t were taught the meaning of
teamwork and fellowship not racism. When we won, we all won and when we
lost we all lost, there was no finger pointing or blame. The NAACP should have sent their members to Parkwood for some of the same lessons
we were taught.
The NAACP is behaving just as racist by asking the school to change its mascot. Weren’t they satisfied when they succeeded in getting MHS to change… there didn’t need to be two rebels in one county, anyway, but that’s neither here nor there.
Does it really give way to bullying? Really? Or, perhaps, are you just trying to punish people for the supposed sins of their fathers? Pathetic!
Good Luck Changing it! We are the Rebels FOREVER
[...] NAACP Pushing Parkwood High School To Change Their Mascot, Saying [...]
If you’re offended by our mascot, it’s not that hard to go to another school.
GET OVER IT.
By the way, go look up the definition of a rebel.
Tell me how that’s racist?
Can’t the NAACP find anything better to complain about? This school is 10% black so that means it is 90% white. If they keep pushing this non issue and force these kids to change their name against their will, can you imigine the racial tension that will arise for these 10 percent black students? Why is the NAACP sticking their nose in this anyway? Have black students said they feel offended by this school’s name? NO! It’s trouble makers like the NAACP telling them that they should. But who cares if they cause racial tension, as long as they get their way and nobody is offended, right?
I KNOW THAT THERE IS RACISM IN THE WORLD, I’M NOT BLIND, BUT IT SEEMS TO ME THAT SINCE OBAMA WAS VOTED IN PEOPLE ARE ACTING STUPID AS HELL. DO U THINK THAT BECAUSE HE IS PRESIDENT HE FEELS LIKE YOU R HIS PEOPLE AND AS HIS PEOPLE HE WANTS YOU TO CREATE AS MUCH HAVAC AS POSSIBLE. WAKE UP EVERYONE!!!!!!!! WHILE YA’LL ARE ACTING LIKE A BUNCH OF IDOTS, FIGHTING ABOUT ALL THIS RACISTS SHIT THAT NEVER MATTER BEFORE YOUR NOT FOCUSING ON THE REAL THINGS THAT DO. HELLO PEOPLE….WE’RE IN CRISIS AND ITS NOT BECAUSE THE DAMN MASCOT AT PARKWOOD IS A REBEL. WHY DON’T YOU START RAISING HELL ABOUT THINGS THAT CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE.