Controversial Leashed Teen Yearbook Photo To Be Covered
POSTED: 12:33 pm EDT May 19, 2005
UPDATED: 12:37 pm EDT May 19, 2005
BOYNTON BEACH, Fla. -- School officials will use stickers to cover the yearbook photo of a high school senior wearing a collar and leash after the teen's mother complained.
Robert Richards, 19, is photographed with then-girlfriend Melissa Finley, who is holding the leash.
Robert Richards, 19, was elected "Most Whipped" by his classmates and photographed with then-girlfriend Melissa Finley, who is holding the leash.
Richards' mother, Jacqueline Nobles, said the picture reminded her of the poster for the 1970s miniseries Roots, which featured a manacled slave. Richards is black and Finley is white.
In response, school district officials ordered stickers that they will use to cover the photos in the remaining 460 copies. They want the 240 students who already received their books to return them for alteration.
The district's professional standards department is investigating to determine how the photos made it into print, district spokesman Nat Harrington said. Typically, the yearbook adviser or the principal must approve all content before the book is printed.
Richards disagrees with his mother's concerns and said he believes he and his peers at Boynton Beach High School are less conscious of race. Enrollment at the school is 63 percent black.
Richards also said complaints that the photo evokes slavery images are irrelevant in this case and said a number of black students were standing around when the photo was taken and nobody protested.
"I don't agree with him and that's perfectly fine," Nobles said.
