Two white girls sent letters of apology after classmates shared a racist rap song they recorded about lynching black boys who found them sexually attractive.
The girls, whose names were not released, said they recorded the improvised rap two years ago as freshmen at Grapevine High School and did not fully understand the implications of their actions, reported Daily Kos.
“At this time in our lives, racism was not the talk of the country nor had we ever witnessed the true power of social media, twitter was still fresh and we had never heard of anyone getting in trouble for posting anything on social media, it was the beginning of this social era,” said one of the girls in a letter written to classmates and teachers.
School officials said they just recently became aware of the recording, which was made in June 2013 and has been circulating among students on social media.
“N*ggas n*ggas n*ggas they always look at me, I want to kill them now, I want to hang them from a tree,” one girl raps at the start of the three-minute, 17-second recording.
The girls repeatedly threaten to kill black boys who look at them sexually and make stereotypical references to black penis size, in addition to homophobic comments and offensive remarks about Latino and Asian-American students.
The girls, however, insist they are not bigoted.
“The song does not portray in any way how I actually feel about people,” one of the girls wrote. “I am a very open-minded person and I enjoy being part of a diverse family and diverse community. I am being raised to be respectful of all people, cultures and differences.”
The other girl said they were only mirroring the society they grew up in.
“As kids, we hear racist jokes all times of the day,” she said. “It’s what we’re around, it’s the jokes we heard.”
But, the girl said, she learned all of those racial slurs and offensive jokes outside her parents’ home.
“In my own home, my entire life I have never heard a foul or judgemental (sic) word for another race ever leave my parents’ mouths,” she claimed. “I myself have witnessed others spit racial slurs or comments and have been completely dumbfounded to the point of tears.”
She cast herself of a victim of anyone who wants to see her held responsible for her own actions.
“The person I am, the person I will now be remembered as, the person who would do anything to take back the words that have hurt and offended so many has accepted the fact that when people are hurt, they want someone to be held responsible,” she said. “They need someone punished.”
The school’s principal said she was “angered by this reprehensible behavior,” but she said the school had no legal authority in the matter because the recording was made when school was not in session.
Principal Shannon Tovar said counselors would be available to meet with students to discuss the matter, and she has met with student leaders to discuss the possibility of guest speakers, and other student events to promote diversity.
She also plans to share letters of apology written by the girls’ parents.
Both girls asked classmates and school employees for their forgiveness.
“I am a good kid, I work hard, I laugh hard, and I love hard -- anyone, from anywhere, at anytime,” said one of the girls. “I made a big mistake and if I had remembered it existed, it would have been destroyed as soon as its existence crossed my mind. I would do anything to take it back. I pray for your forgiveness, and open sincere hearts, and that you will believe me when I say, I am so so deeply sorry.”
Listen to the NSFW recording posted online by Daily Kos:
