An Alabama high school teacher was placed on administrative leave with pay Monday (Jan. 22) for using a racial slur while describing Tupac Shakur’s music.
According to AL, the students in Tracie Butcher’s food and nutrition class at Hoover High School were playing the iconic rapper’s emotional song, “Dear Mama.” Multiple students reported that Butcher, who is white, asked the classroom to “turn the ni**er tunes off.”
A video was soon posted on Snapchat of the incident, and at Hoover’s Board of Education meeting, Butcher apologized for her words but claimed they were used because the lyrics of “Dear Mama” feature profanity—which they don’t.
“It’s just baffling to me how someone does not understand the severity of the weight of that word.” Morrow told AL. “You certainly have the professionalism, the expectations of faculties and staff and all school personnel to conduct themselves in appropriate, professional, and respectful ways.”
The school is currently investigating the incident further, talking to parents, students and the teacher.