By Edward Henderson, California Black Media
The Black Educator Advocates Network (BEAN) and the NAACP San Fernando Valley Branch are calling for an independent investigation into what they say is a longstanding pattern of racial harassment and retaliation against Black educators in the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD).
During a July 9 virtual press conference, leaders from both organizations alleged that Black teachers and staff have repeatedly been subjected to racial slurs, including the N-word, by students on school campuses and through online learning platforms. They also contend that educators who reported the incidents often faced retaliation from school administrators rather than support.
“Black educators are being punished for telling the truth,” said Jalisa Evans, CEO of BEAN. “When these teachers report it, they should be met with support, not retaliation. We are calling on the district to take real, immediate action to end this pattern once and for all.”
According to Evans, the incidents are not isolated but reflect a systemic problem that has persisted across LAUSD for years.
During the press conference, BEAN shared testimony from Black educators describing incidents in which students allegedly called teachers the N-word during class, wrote racial slurs on classroom desks and walls, and sent racist messages through Schoology and Zoom during distance learning. One teacher recounted opening a classroom door to find the N-word written across a desk. Another said an administrator responded to a complaint by asking whether a student used the slur ending in “er” or “a.”
Because of concerns over continued retaliation, BEAN said the educators whose experiences were highlighted remained anonymous during the event.
Evans said educators have documented years of racial harassment dating back to at least 2020, when students allegedly used racial slurs during online instruction. In response, Black educators formed a Hate Speech Task Force to formally report incidents, document evidence and advocate for stronger protections.
The advocacy groups said recent meetings with state and district officials have resulted in initial commitments but have yet to produce the accountability they believe is necessary.
According to Evans, members of the task force met July 7 with LAUSD Chief of Human Resources Dr. Frank Serrato, Associate Superintendent of Talent and Labor Relations Krista Murphy and Board Member Kelly Gomez. During the meeting, educators presented documentation of alleged racial harassment and retaliation.
Responding, district officials told the group they were unaware of the scope of the complaints despite documentation that had also been shared with State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond.
“It was really disheartening to us,” Evans said. “There was so much documentation on these experiences.”
The following day, educators met with Thurmond, California Department of Education officials and Gomez during a two-hour discussion focused on policy reforms and stronger district oversight.
At that meeting, Gomez committed to working with educators on a school board resolution addressing racial hate speech and retaliation and agreed to request an investigation into the allegations, according to BEAN.
The organizations also received support from Darrell Goode, Area Coordinator for the NAACP’s Los Angeles County branches, who said stronger advocacy from labor unions and community organizations will be critical to protecting Black educators.
“We need to go at their unions,” Goode said. “If they’re not getting support, we can call the unions into question. Most unions don’t want to be exposed for not supporting Black workers.”
Goode said the concerns raised by Black educators mirror broader challenges facing African American workers across Los Angeles County and urged educators to continue organizing.
“If they’re willing to come forward, we can start mobilizing,” Goode said. “We have legal redress, we have organizational structure, and we can be supportive.”
Among the groups’ demands are the immediate reassignment of administrators accused of retaliating against Black educators while investigations are pending, stronger enforcement of existing anti-hate policies and a districtwide review of schools that have experienced significant departures of Black teachers or administrators over the past two decades.
Rev. James Thomas, president of the NAACP San Fernando Valley Branch, said accountability must extend beyond individual complaints and address the broader culture that allows racial harassment to persist.
“If teachers are being disrespected in the way they are, can you imagine what’s happening to students?” Thomas said. “What happens to Black people in LAUSD, no one cares about. That has to change.”
Advocates are encouraging affected educators to confidentially report their experiences as they continue gathering evidence and building support for policy reforms. They also urged community members to sign a public letter supporting their demands and to participate in shaping the proposed school board resolution.
Thomas said the coalition is seeking structural reforms rather than symbolic action.
“We are hoping for a real structural resolution to this issue,” he said. “If we do not get it, we will utilize our collective power to force the issue. We don’t want Black folks to continue to be victimized in an institution they are serving.”
