For Immediate Release
September 5, 2024

Media Contact
President Nimrod Chapel, Jr.
(816) 309-5009
president@monaacp.org

The Missouri NAACP stands in full support of Colby Barker, a 17-year-old Black student from Park Hill High School in Kansas City, Missouri, who was unjustly suspended after defending a female classmate from a peer who has been known to make racist remarks and issue threats of sexual violence. This incident highlights the alarming culture of racial terror and sexual misconduct that Missouri students continue to face—one that is too often overlooked or excused by school administrators. This is the third similar incident of racial violence we have been made aware of in Missouri since schools began the 2024-25 academic year in August.

It takes immense courage for students to unify and stand up against this kind of systemic abuse. Barker's suspension, following his efforts to protect a friend from a classmate's threat to rape her, is unacceptable. Even more disturbing is the fact that while Barker, who was subjected to racial slurs, has been suspended, the white student who initiated the threats has faced delayed and insufficient disciplinary action, only after public outcry.

"It is unacceptable that in 2024, a Black student who reports a threat of sexual violence and is called the N-word in a school hallway is suspended, while the student issuing the threat and racial slur walks free. Missouri's culture of silence on racial terror and sexual harassment must end," said Nimrod Chapel, Jr., President of the Missouri State Conference of the NAACP.

As the NAACP continues its investigation into this incident, we urge the public to remember their own experiences of being bullied for characteristics they cannot change—whether it be race, gender, or other attributes. Colby's experience echoes a reality many Black youth know all too well: when racial slurs and threats are hurled, they are often followed by acts of physical violence or emotional trauma. The use of the N-word is not just a verbal assault but an act that conjures the very real fear of further violence.

"I remember growing up, hearing hurtful names. But what scared me most was the violence that often followed those words," added Chapel. "Schools should be safe places where students are protected, not punished for defending their peers from harm.  Park Hill is teaching the wrong lesson."

Colby's case is not just an individual issue but part of a broader failure in Missouri’s educational system to protect Black students and students who speak out against harassment. We are calling on the Park Hill School District to reassess its disciplinary procedures and ensure that students like Colby, who stand up against sexual violence and racism, are supported rather than penalized.

"Athletes and scholars who take a stand for community values must be supported, not silenced. Colby Barker has been victimized twice—first by a peer and then by the very institution that should be protecting him. This cannot continue," said Chapel. "The Missouri NAACP will not stand by while our youth face these injustices. We will hold the school and district accountable and ensure Colby and others like him are defended."

The NAACP will specifically address the issues of racially biased discipline at the September 28, 2024 Annual Meeting.  If you or your loved one has an experience to share or concern to raise, www.monaacp.org for more information as we call on Park Hill to end the terror on its Black and female students. 

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The Missouri State Conference of the NAACP is dedicated to ensuring the political, educational, social, and economic equality of rights of all persons and to eliminate race-based discrimination. With a rich history of advocacy and progress, the NAACP continues to be at the forefront of the fight for civil rights in America.