LUBBOCK — The local NAACP chapter convened recently, beginning with a prayer, which set the tone for a somber discussion about ongoing injustices affecting Black students in the area.
During the meeting, several parents recounted distressing incidents. One mother reported that her son, a Black high school football player, was subjected to racial slurs during a game without any repercussions for the offenders. Another parent described how his 12-year-old grandson was wrongfully accused of inappropriate behavior, interrogated by a police officer at school without parental presence, and subsequently sentenced to a month at a disciplinary alternative school. Additionally, a mother shared the story of her honors student, who was mistakenly accused by a teacher of possessing a vaping device — when in fact it was a pencil sharpener — and was also sent to an alternative school for a month this fall.
Phyllis Gant, a long-standing leader of the NAACP chapter in Lubbock, expressed deep concern about the treatment of Black children in local schools, stating, “It’s just open season on our students.”
Last year, there had been optimism regarding an improvement in the racial dynamics within Lubbock schools, especially after the federal government initiated civil rights investigations following numerous reported incidents of racial bullying that garnered national attention. A resolution seemed imminent in fall 2024, with an investigator from the Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR) preparing to visit the area for final interviews before establishing protective measures with the Lubbock-Cooper school district.
However, the landscape changed dramatically with the 2024 presidential election, leading to the cancellation of the planned visit. In March, under the Trump administration, seven of the Education Department’s twelve regional civil rights enforcement offices were closed, including the Dallas office responsible for investigating complaints related to Lubbock. This shift resulted in a breakdown of communication, as emails from the families’ attorney to the federal investigator were returned undelivered due to staffing cuts.
Following these developments, many parents and educators reported a deterioration in race relations in the Lubbock area. Although Black residents, who make up approximately 8% of Lubbock County, did not anticipate that federal intervention would entirely eliminate racist incidents, the possibility of a formal agreement had fostered a sense of accountability. Now, parents note that racial slurs are increasingly common in public, and Black educators are hesitant to speak out for fear of drawing negative attention. Gant indicated that the NAACP chapter is receiving more frequent calls from parents seeking help with incidents they no longer feel compelled to report to the Education Department.
The OCR has not announced any investigations into racial discrimination against Black students since President Trump took office, opting instead to prioritize cases involving alleged anti-white discrimination and complaints related to policies on transgender students.
In total, the Education Department under Trump has dismissed thousands of civil rights investigations. A Washington Post analysis revealed that in the first half of this year, OCR mandated changes and federal monitoring in only 59 cases, a significant drop from 336 cases during the same timeframe the previous year.
Paige Duggins-Clay, a lawyer with the Intercultural Development Research Association, emphasized the vital role that OCR played in providing hope for communities feeling isolated. “OCR mattered and gave people a sense of hope,” she said, lamenting its dismantling.
Julie Hartman, the press secretary for legal affairs at the Department of Education, stated that the complaints of racial bullying were filed during the last two years, allowing the Biden administration more time to investigate than the Trump administration had while in office. She asserted that the Trump administration’s OCR would continue to enforce laws to protect the civil rights of all Americans.
Some white residents have also observed a shift in the atmosphere. Tracey Benefield, a mother with children in the Lubbock Independent School District, reported that her son has witnessed multiple instances of racial bullying over the past year. “Things have absolutely gotten worse,” she remarked, noting that individuals are now more likely to act on their racist sentiments without fear of consequences.
In nearby Slaton, Black parents and teachers report an ongoing prevalence of racial bullying and mistreatment within schools. Complaints made to the OCR in previous years have not led to meaningful change. Parents who once advocated for increased staffing and quicker resolutions to OCR cases now feel frustrated by the lack of progress.
Tracy Kemp’s son Brady was one of several Black students targeted in a 2022 incident involving a social media page that mocked them. Despite the school district’s investigation, those responsible were never identified. Kemp described the continued bullying her children faced even after the page was taken down, leading her to withdraw them from the district entirely.
Another alarming incident involved Ja’Maury, a 12-year-old who was falsely accused of inappropriate behavior and interrogated by a police officer without parental oversight. He was subsequently placed in a detention school, where he experienced anxiety and fear that affected his well-being.
Gant highlighted that during her upbringing in Lubbock, she did not encounter the same level of overt racism that is prevalent today. While she noted some positive changes in district policies following community activism, she remains vigilant in addressing ongoing issues.
As the Lubbock area grapples with these challenges, Gant and other community leaders emphasize the importance of collective action and accountability in striving for a more equitable educational environment.
