Petition asking for 'anti-racist' curriculum to be added to all Horry County Schools

HORRY COUNTY, S.C. (WPDE) — "Publicly denounce racism today and take steps toward creating an anti-racist curriculum for all Horry County Schools." That's what you'll see on this petition circling Horry County The goal is to get Horry County School board members to support it.

Melinda Custer graduated from Carolina Forest High School in 2013 and created the petition; she's currently a preschool teacher in California and said she sees how institutionalized racism plays a role in today's society.

“I started it because I’m a preschool teacher, so schools as institutions are an area that I’m familiar with and how institutionalized racism can be a part of those, and that just felt like an area where I can try to bring awareness to the issue," Custer said.

Custer said she doesn't think many people truly understand what it means to be anti-racist because it's not something you're taught in school.

“I think that it’s important for white people to realize that racism is not just, oh, some mean words that if you avoid saying them then you’re not racist. The truth is we all are because we all benefit from the systems that we’re a part of," Custer said.

In the petition addressed to Horry County School Board Members, Custer said

Many of us did not know what white privilege was until we attended college, which is an opportunity afforded to us largely due to privilege. We did not learn about how systemic racism still pervades our society today during our school experiences in Horry County. We did not learn about micro-aggressions and how to stand up against them, even though they most certainly existed in the halls of our schools.

Custer said what she means when she says anti-racist curriculum is allowing people of color to have a role in how black history is taught across schools in the county.

“I think one of the most important things is having primary sources that are from black individuals. Not writing black history from the perspective of a white person, having their voices actually a part of the curriculum I think is really important," Custer said.

The petition also states that more people of color need to be on the school board and that black authors, artists, and scholars are used as primary sources of education in all subjects.

Custer said growing up in Horry County and attending public schools in the county, she doesn't remember blatant acts of racism but hidden ones.

“One thing that I definitely look back and remember seeing is a lot of microaggressions. So, they’re not things that you can point out and say you’re being racist but it’s like these little things that people say that it like, 'hm,m that just doesn’t seem right,'" Custer said.

The petition already has more than 500 signatures, something Custer said she is happy about. She said she doesn't have a goal for how many signatures she wants but she is looking for a comment from someone on the Horry County School Board.

“I felt like I needed to do something, and I was hoping that the people in my hometown would agree and support it and I’m really happy that they do so hopefully there can be changes because of it," Custer said.

Ken Richardson, Chairman of the Horry County School Board, said he does not have enough information on the petition to provide a comment at this time. He said adding things to the county's curriculum is something that has to go through the county's curriculum committee first.

Janet Graham, who also sits on the Horry County School Board and is a member of the county's Curriculum Committee, said this is her first time hearing about the petition and she will look into it.

Lisa Bourcier, the Director of Strategic Communications & Community Engagement for Horry County Schools sent this statement in response to the petition:

“We were recently made aware of a change.org petition regarding anti-racism. First and foremost, there is no place for racism or discrimination in Horry County Schools. We will not support or tolerate toxic, divisive speech or actions associated with hate, racism, discrimination, or intolerance of any kind. Horry County Schools will continue to promote an atmosphere of acceptance and inclusivity. Horry County Schools will also continue to utilize the curriculum standards established by the South Carolina Department of Education which promote the study of diverse cultures and populations."