Massachusetts school play only allowing students of color to participate, parent group claims

NEWTON, Mass. (TND) — A high school theater production that appears to only allow students of color to participate has been hit with a federal civil rights complaint.

Newton North High School (NNHS) in Massachusetts is putting on a production titled "Lost and Found: Stories of People of Color by People of Color" through its Theatre Ink program. The show, which is student-led, is described as "a no-cut, cabaret-style show for students of color," and is meant to "provide a safe community space for students of color to express themselves through the performing arts."

The information packet says the show will have full-cast rehearsals once a week where organized discussions about race and identity will be held.

Advocacy group Parents Defending Education (PDE) told The National Desk (TND) that a mother within the district reached out about the production, telling the group she was distressed over how "very clearly" it was spelled out that only students of color were welcome to participate. This prompted PDE to investigate the matter and ultimately file a federal civil rights complaint with the U.S. Department of Education.

The fact that this is a student-run event doesn't make it any less morally, and frankly, constitutionally, incorrect," Nicole Neily, President and Founder of PDE, told TND. "The fact that there is not a single adult in that building who looked at this and said 'this is not okay, guys, you can't do this, you can't discriminate on the basis of race' is troubling in and of itself."

The complaint states the school is in violation of both Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution by discriminating on the basis of race, color or national origin in programs or activities that receive federal financial assistance. Newton Public Schools (NPS), the district which NNHS is a part of, denies these allegations.

Interested students are also asked to submit headshots when registering for audition slots, which PDE says "appears to reinforce the identity-based nature of this event." The audition form also asks students to note how they identify racially or ethnically.

Aside from the legal aspect, Neily is not only concerned about how these types of events impact students, but about the message their school leaders are sending.

Events like this, when they discriminate on the basis of race or on the basis of sex, send a message to students that this kind of behavior is right, it is morally correct and it is socially acceptable," says Neily. "None of those things are true."

Theatre Ink, which is NNHS's student-centered teaching and working theater, says on its website that it "values and celebrates diversity of all kinds" and "encouraging diversity of participation" is an overall goal.

Neily says the Department of Education will now look closely at the matter and determine if it needs to open an investigation, which she hopes it does.

We do not discriminate on the basis of skin color in this country," she says. "It was wrong in the 50s, it was wrong during Jim Crow and it's wrong today."

"While centered in the stories of the lives of our students of color, no one is turned away or excluded from participating or having a role in the “Lost and Found” production of Theatre Ink, Newton North's teaching and working theater program," NPS told TND. "The Newton Public Schools do not exclude students based upon color, race, ethnicity, or religious background." NPS also says it supports the premise and educational value of the production and is proud of its students.