Goldsboro High School principal Christopher D. Horne gave more than a dozen teachers — several of them white — an assignment March 18 as part of what he characterized as a mandatory professional development session: Read Peggy McIntosh’s “White Privilege: Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack,” write and submit a “cultural autobiography,” and come to campus March 20 prepared to discuss both.
The McIntosh piece, published in 1988, states, among other things, that “whites are carefully taught not to recognize white privilege” and that “most talk by whites about equal opportunity seems to me now to be about equal opportunity to try to get into a position of dominance while denying that systems of dominance exist.”
The reading also included instructions for staff to follow, including keeping a “diary” of “white privilege that they notice … in their daily lives” and writing down “ways in which whites are privileged in their own school.”
Reading the article — and following the above instructions — was not optional. Here is the email Horne sent to staff:
As a result of Horne’s assignment, several GHS teachers have filed formal complaints with Wayne County Public Schools — accusing the first-year principal of creating a hostile work environment, discrimination, and distribution of racist material.
In fact, according to board policy, had they not reported it, they would be “subject to disciplinary action.”
One teacher, who requested anonymity for fear of retaliation, said they saw the assignment as a “slap in the face” and no longer considers GHS a “safe place to work.”
“I increasingly see evidence that Mr. Horne uses race as a keystone of his own identity and the identity of others,” he told the New Old North. “While previously, this has been employed to celebrate the strengths of different cultures, populations, etc., I increasingly feel as if I’m expected to cope with my whiteness, offer critical excuses for other teachers who are white, and made to feel as if my opinions are not heard as collegial and constructive, but as tainted by the color of my skin.”
Another said they were “shocked” by the assignment, but feared speaking out because of potential damage to their career.
“This is North Carolina. We have no real union. We are told we can be fired at will,” they said. “So I should feel protected in this case? I feel like that’s why only a handful of teachers have come forward.”
An African-American teacher who has not yet filed a complaint with the district because they, too, fear retaliation, said they were “disgusted” by the suggestion they keep a list of white privilege they noticed around GHS.
“There is so much wrong with that activity that it’s hard to know where to start,” they wrote in a statement provided to the New Old North. “I love my co-workers. I teach my students that white, black, yellow, we are all the same. How can I preach and practice those words and go around spying on my white colleagues? Unethical doesn’t even begin to cover what this is.”
When he was hired by the district in June, Horne, in a news release, said inclusivity was one of his strengths.
“A major strength I possess is my ability to build positive relationships with people of all backgrounds,” he said.
GHS employs a dozen white staff members — from teachers, counselors and testing coordinators to coaches and the school’s athletic director — and, while they reflect the minority, some of the school’s student body is white.
The school also houses a white success coach and college, career, and military coordinator.
To date, none of the teachers quoted in this story who filed formal complaints March 21 have heard from the district. And while board policy makes it clear that the “investigator” has 15 days — and in some cases, more — to reach a conclusion on such matters, it also states that “every effort should be made to expedite the process.”
The question now, according to those who filed the complaints, is how long before their concerns are addressed. Horne’s next mandatory professional development session is scheduled for March 27 at 8 a.m. — leaving staff members wondering whether or not to attend.
“How can I go into that meeting without any guidance? Am I expected to be insubordinate and refuse to show up? Do I face getting written up or worse and damage my career because this hasn’t been handled?” one of them told the New Old North. “This seems like a pretty clear-cut case. I’m not exactly sure what we’re waiting for.”
Has he checked his racist level lately….obama’s divisive behavior alive and well !! At least he puts his racism out there so you know what he is.
Exactly, and it should not be tolerated in the workplace.
What does Obama have to do with any of this? ♀️♀️
You would not understand if I told you so I won’t wast my time >>>
It’s idiots like this who make being black a harder road. The whites around me are kind, courteous and concerned about providing a good life for their families. As I am. This kind of “reverse racism” is insulting and unnecessary. I hope he gets his walking papers and a BAD recommendation.
I see nothing wrong with writing a auto biography, Whites are taught to not recognize white privilege. Goldsboro High was once a all white school and now predominantly African American. When they discussed White American History we had no choice but to sit and learn. But they aren’t allowed to elaborate much on slavery, in our books and on test they didn’t quiz much on African Americans history. Another issue that I seen when moving from NYC to Goldsboro High is that Wayne School of Engineering was majority whites and we’re taught differently from the rest of the building (Goldsboro High School) even went to school at different times and had more opportunities. You can’t tell me that majority of the kids sent to ENGINEERING test scores were through the roof. It was the color of their skin. I don’t see anything wrong with this man doing his job. Obviously this Man has a motive behind this project and the teachers who work for him should understand his VISION for HIS SCHOOL !
What school did you go to that they didn’t teach on slavery and the history of slaves? I had to do a project on Harriet Tubman. I’m white. And went to a majority white school. Really sucks having your giant post debunked in 30 seconds I bet.
Wow an essay on Harriet Tubman and that covers centuries of slavery…I’m curious, what did you learn from such a comprehensive assignment that gifted you with a complete knowledge of slavery; its beginnings; its impact on blacks and whites in America and abroad; it psychological, social and economical impact on ALL peoples today…I am assuming all these were learning goals for the assignment.
Apparently you think slavery began in the south and is limited to America and it’s past. Please do continue with your extensive knowledge
It’s not HIS School. It’s the people’s school.
Goldsboro High School has not been all white since 1962.
It’s not his school. His personal beliefs and what he likes to read should not be shoved down the throats of others. Also, would someone please explain to me what the hell white privilege is supposed to mean?
Amen all you said I am so sick of hearing this mess it’s going way to far I do not care. I had nothing to do with it nor did any one else living now. As far as white privileged I have never seen it or experienced anything like that. As a matter of fact I have raised two daughters by myself no hel from the government I couldn’t get help, no Medicaid food stamps I worked every day and learned to do without. So the white privileged things is a load of crap. The rich is the only privileged I know of and that all colors. Time to stop this poor me bit,and just live be thankful for what we have and Stop blaming the white guy for your problems. It’s a tough world I work in a hospital I don’t make much money I don’t have a degree I couldn’t afford to go to college that a white lady now could not afford to go!! It’s straight across the board we all need to pull together instead of lashing out the is poor people medium living and wealthy and very wealthy and then there is also homeless look see where you ll fit most this day in time are poor most average yearly income for average person is 15-28,000 a year before taxes!! We all struggle everyday this man is wrong and he is pushing his beliefs off on his teachers he won’t last thats wrong he is causing him to issues that will go on his record you can’t do things like that no matter what your color is you will be let go any where you work anyone,as bad as our schools need good teachers we do not need to do them like that he is wrong and messed up maybe doing for attention but he will get the wrong kind of attention regard of what people say he will find it hard to get a job no place wants to hire anyone that’s about drama or trouble that’s how he will seem regardless they may not say nothing but he won’t ever be hired if he will be asked about this in interviews he has made this public far beyond what he has realized what he has done to him selves. Give it a little bit he will be gone from that school has Well no one wants to hang around that or be connected to that or him black white yellow or red people because of what back lash In future employment
Obviously you are older pretending to be younger. Please check your grammar.
That is not true! White human beings have not be taught that. I take great offense to you saying that I have been taught that.
And here we go….
I’d like to hear Mr. Horne’s take on this. It would be great to have an interview, with his perspective. This is a very controversial topic, that has left me needing “more to the story.”
I am a white woman, working in a majority African-American inner-city school. I see the dangers of ignoring white privilege, and the horrible effects it has on our black and brown brothers and sisters. It does exist, it is awful and we need to educate ourselves about it so that we can do away with it. With that said, Mr. Horne was my principal 3 years ago – and he brought this same training into our first Professional Development. We had to sit through 2 days of racist, worthless BS that did nothing to educate others on white privilege. Almost all teachers were outraged, and our African American building union rep was screaming mad – so much so, that the Board had to send additional staff over the next day to make sure we didn’t riot!! And honestly, shaming white people for the color of their skin only makes them angrier and more willing to discount the reality of white privilege.
So what the h*ll is this white privilege?
As a white man, I am embarrassed by all the white teachers objecting to this activity. White people often do not want to confront how good they have it relative to people of color in this country. That is the definition of privilege. These white people scrambled to make sure the black guy got in trouble for this. That is the definition of privilege. The problem is that these white people want to only focus on their intentions and telling themselves that they are good people without doing the hard working of exploring power dynamics in the world around them. That again, is the definition of privilege.
You sir are a moron. White privilege is a myth and you are a complete fool to buy into it. By all means feel guilty for something that happened hundreds of years ago that you nor I had nothing to do with, we can move on without you.
James I would have to disagree to some extent. Privilege is defined as “a special right, advantage, or immunity granted or available only to a particular person or group.” Explain to me why supervisor, a person of color, makes over $200k a year and has a car and cell phone provided for personal and work related business. You see putting white in front of privilege makes it exclusive to all white people. Nick have many friends and colleagues of color that are way more “privileged” than many of my white friends and colleagues. Now I would agree that my immigrant ancestor, who was likely a stowaway wanting a better life immigrated to the US and changed his name, was here about 100 years prior to many of the African slaves brought in by rich land owners. This does not make me privileged but it does give me about a 100 year advantage but does not make me privileged due to the color of my skin. I believe many white people are oblivious and insensitive to the advantage that we have over our brothers and sisters of color.
Sir with all due respect…Aborigines were here long before Columbus…but we only know what they teach us in history…i could go on with evidence but most wont take time to reseach facts so i will leave it there…but its not your fault you lack this knowledge, thats the way it was planned.
Another MORON here >>>
he should either be terminated or placed on probation immediately. The minimum he should receive is mandatory training in effective management training and racial relations classes- I WILL BE CONTACTING THE BOARD OF ED CONCERNING THIS.
I applaud the courage of the teachers that had the wisdom to step forward and shine a light on this hostile and abusive workplace. Horne created an unhealthy work environment and needs to be removed from a position of power. What would he think if individuals on his campus suggested he landed his position based merely on the color of his skin and then demanded he examine, unpack, and write about how his privilege quashed a job opportunity for some other deserving person? Anyone who dared to read the McIntosh article and who has a brain can see what an apologist, flake she was. I am surprised she didn’t suggest we all atone to the atmosphere for breathing oxygen without permission or offer sacrifices to fruits for causing pain as we bite into them. In her world, men and Whites are privileged and they should spend their lives unpacking their imaginary backpacks, laden with the weight of privilege, while contemporaneously carving out time to amend for ill-gotten skin pigment and gender-based gains. No thanks, Peggy, I earned my life–the good, the bad, and the ugly– and suggest you and your ilk get on board with living your lives and stop creating a false sense of entitlement whilst fostering a generation of spineless babies.
As a multicultural instructor, itnis my opinion that this assignment is fundamentally wrong and as a society we are failing to improve our current lives for the fact we keep drewling on the past. As a teacher to students gender, race, religion, and economic backgrounds should not matter. Teachers should set a standard of expectations and the student should strive to meet and honestly exceed those standards. When a student fails to meet that standard then appropriate repercussions should occur, rather they repeat or are moved down. However, I only see excuses being made as to why the student did not meet the standard. There have been horrible incidents in our worlds past, there are going to be horrible events in our future, we can only control a small segment of life so lets quit using excusses to govern and give passes to people failing to meet the standards. If you don’t do your job, do you continue to get paid?
If our local educators lack the ability to engage in an educated discussion around race and privilege, then they should be replaced with more-capable, enlightened individuals. These sort of shortcomings of our current education system exemplify exactly why more focus should be placed on hiring quality educators such, as this principal. This exercise is simple, and any educated adult should be able to engage in the exercise without feeling threatened. The response of the teachers to this activity proposed by their superior is embarrassing, and reflective of the ignorance that has been holding our community back for decades. The GHS principal should remain proud of his attempt to start an educated dialogue around one of our nation’s most important issues.
Part of the project was to keep a diary about where white privilege was spotted ,basically spying on one another and reporting back to the principal. How to you foster an atmosphere of trust if you can’t trust the person next to you?
Its a very sad world when we have people in positions of leadership that show our kids the meaning of racism. There should not be any paper written on the acts of whites… or the acts of blacks. The past is there to help guide us…for us to learn from. Not to bring any color down to their knees. Shame to the principal…shame to any person that thinks that this is something to be tolerated. Shame to the board if nothing is done. Do you think I’m white because I decided to write this? Do you think I’m black because I wrote this? What if I told you that I had no ethic background.. would you feel any different on the morals of this situation ? Look how far we have come from our history.. Do you think that ML King meant for us to still debate our color ? Was that a dream ? Shame , Shame, Shame to the adults that don’t stand up against this hypocrisy. Mr. Principal where did life go wrong for you? Do you see the racism in your required paper to be turned in ? Shame, Shame, Shame is what you have done to your school.
I’m still trying to wrap my head around the issue and then I read the comments. Wayne School of Engineering Students selected because they’re white, not because of test scores. ( grammar different in NY?) White people not being taught white privilege. I’m struggling to understand how to we are to be united by teaching one group they are victims and the other they are privileged based on skin color. Do you really empower one group (victims) by demeaning another group ( privileged). That sounds a lot like excusing one group by blaming the other. If you want real progress, why don’t you address issues not tied to race? Parents and income, or lack of, have more to do with outcomes in school than the color of ones skin. 50 years after integration and affirmative action, maybe it’s time to teach personal responsibility instead of , it’s not my fault so it must be yours.
Racism does indeed have a face and a name and it is Mr. Christopher D. Horne.
Wow, let me say I am white and I find the stereotype “white priveledge” offensive. My family worked hard for everything and so have my husband and I. I am not saying there are no white people who are privileged, but the majority of the ones I know have worked hard to get where they are! It is wrong to lump one race under one stereotype! I am trying to see this situation from a fair prospective, but with so much prejudice going on it is difficult not to jump to the conclusion that Mr Horne got his point across! What I would like to know is if he explained himself before giving the assignment and told the teachers it was not meant to be taken as a slap in the face or did he give the assignment without getting on a more compassionate level? By the way, I learned about black history growing up in NC and so have my children, plus the month of February is dedicated to it. My prayer everyday is that people will open their hearts and see human beings and not color. I can not believe we are in this place …. still! I will say this though, my 13 year old went to a (public) Charter school for 7 years and wanted to go to her assigned middle school this year. Less than two weeks into school she cane home and said ,” momma it’s not the white people that are prejudice.” She did not elaborate or say unkind things, but only that simple statement. She had friends of all races at the charter school, but she did not see color. This school year she sees color, because she is called white cracker, white priveldge, etc. It’s an old subject and a very tiresome one. Are well to do, hard working people of color called black priledge or yellow privledge,etc…? I am not being faceitious, but merely trying to make a point. Praying for resolve!
With all the critical needs in Education today, what a colossal waste of time, not to mention the insulting nature of this assignment. So you teach all day long, hoping you had a chance to go to the bathroom once during the day. You have papers/tests from several classes to grade and you must sit in a class for hours for this? On top of that, you are supposed to spy on your cohorts that you’re lucky to have a chance to say hello to each day. This guy is caught up in a social justice fog and needs to start worrying about being a leader ALL his faculty and students can trust and respect
I recently had to sit through a “training” on white privilege. I work for a very large place of business in the triangle. The training was basically a lecture to all whites present how we mistreat people of color. There was no dialogue just “preachung”. It took everything in me to sit there and not say anything. I nearly quit the next day because of how it divided our department. It is wrong for anyone to classify a group of people by their skin color and say they all portray the same characteristics. We, as whites could never do that against people of color or we would be racist…but yet it can be done to us and we cannot say anything. I personally feel our society has taken huge strides BACKWARDS in the area of race relations in the last decade.
Agree completely with your assessment of the situation in America. Reverse discrimination is alive and rampant in America!!
It is not a SKIN problem – it is a SIN problem.
I’m a white male who has worked in education for about 30 years. I’ve taught students of all races. I’m smart enough not to judge students by the color of their skin. I’ve taught all students equally regardless of race. Being white does not cloud my mission when I walk into a classroom. The principal at Goldsboro High has insulted his white teachers. I hope the school board takes appropriate action. I’d love to email this principal directly, but his email address isn’t published.
This guy stepped over the line, he needs to check HIS privilege and he damn sure doesn’t need to be supervising anyone, if that’s representative of his style of management.
This kind of thinking has no place in a educational setting. This is more along the lines of street corner mentality.. How did he get to be a Principal?
While this is sad to hear, GHS Principal, Mr. Horne is coming from a place and time where divisive speech has become a common part of our culture. This would be fine in a country where free speech and thought are celebrated. There was a time when this was the goal. During the 1970s and 80s I recall the push for inclusivity, where “I don’t like what you say, but I will fight and die for your right to say it” was an American ideal. Perhaps we missed the opportunity to define an American Culture. To promote one race and not another is discriminatory. Yet, what about when one race seems to “sell” more than another? What if one race is marketed as ideal, and another is not? What message is it sending to our children? Just as offensive as it is to hear a racist term like “White Privilege” if you are Caucasian it is equally offensive to leaf through every magazine and image to be shown what the ideal baby, or woman, or man should look like to a person of color. So, is there a solution? Understand that Mr. Horne is doing his best with the information he has. For the past decade, our country has found itself divided on color once again, incited by political rhetoric by the left and the right. As we move into the next decade we MUST look backward, to move forward by embracing the words and the spirit of Dr. Martin Luther King.
I suspect this page will disappear before long when his job is in jeopardy
White educator here. In general, increased cultural awareness is a good thing as it helps us better understand one another. This is especially true in education. If you are white, and you teach students of color, being aware of how their experiences might differ from your own can help make you better at your job.
Moreover, it is easy for us to be dismissive of things that do not affect us. Claiming not to see racism doesn’t mean that it isn’t there, and claiming that talking about it just perpetuates it won’t make it go away.
That said, based on the amount of information available about this activity, Horne is way out of line. First and foremost, we are all comprised of not just one identity but many (racial, cultural, gender, religious, etc.). To single out one particular racial identity for greater scrutiny and examination is prejudicial.
Furthermore, it ignores the extent to which privilege is contextual. Within a majority-white setting, students of color may indeed be “othered” and potentially victimized by unconscious biases*. But within a majority-black setting, it is white/non-black students who are effectively “othered.” What steps is Horne taking to ensure that his black staff are considerate of students who don’t share their backgrounds? Is he prepared to ask black staff (or better yet, himself) in a majority-black institution to examine their privilege and speak to how their experiences may be normalized? If not, he has no business asking his white staff to check their privilege.
*Before anyone starts up with “That’s B.S. I’m not a racist!,” unconscious bias does not require malicious intent (hence, unconscious). It’s simply thinking about something in a way that seems “normal” to you but that may be exclusionary to others because you haven’t considered them. For example, if you say “Women can’t handle being doctors,” that’s overt bias/sexism. Let’s say that you don’t subscribe to that idea but learn that a woman works at a hospital, and you assume that she’s a nurse or a receptionist rather than a doctor. That’s unconscious bias.
Wonder why it is that someone in an Administrative position at Wayne County PublicSchools posted they “Love it!” On Facebook.
This man should be fired immediately. As a tax payer in Wayne County, I call for him to be fired. If this were reverse all heck would have broken out and mark my words the principal would have been fired. There is no purpose in this Staff Development other then to incite hatred and division. We , as taxpayers, should not stand for this type of bullying. We pay his salary and it’s time to hold him accountable and let him go. I am saddened that he was allowed to do this. Does he not have to have his Staff Development subjects approved? Is so, who approves them? They also should be let go. Let us join together as a county and do what is right.
People of Goldsboro,
I am white, an educator, a graduate of GHS, and have had the privilege of never encountering a serious disadvantage due to my race. (Because having a DJ that only played rap and R&B at my senior prom wasn’t serious).
There is no better litmus test for whether or not YOU need a lesson on white privilege, than the fact that the very concept of white privilege offends you.
Not sure about exactly how this went down, so I can’t comment on that, but we do need to check our white privilege sometimes and/or at least acknowledge it exists… because it does. It is just having awareness. Again, don’t know all the facts, but just speaking to awareness. I was a mental health counselor (contracted by WISH Center) in Goldsboro HS and I had to check myself and my white privilege in order to better understand and serve the students and families I worked with. It was actually quite helpful to me and, I think, to them as well. I loved working there. I think much of the outrage about this illustrates white privilege rather well.
The more people make an issue about color of skin the more it will be an issue. Simple rules people…be kind, have manners and remember that respect has to be earned. Don’t generalize (that’s what racism does) and accept the fact that everybody has different circumstances in their life. BTW this principal is no longer principal. Wonder why????