Glen Allen HS apologizing after racist song plays at football ga - NBC12 - WWBT - Richmond, VA News On Your Side

Henrico County Public schools administrators are now investigating after a racially explicit song was played at the homecoming football game on Friday against Richmond's John Marshall High School, which is predominantly African American.

It happened as Glen Allen and John Marshal's varsity football teams were warming up for homecoming.  It's implied the song was talking about the African American community.  The lyric captured on video says, "They're trying to raise money, but they can't cause they spend all their money.  They're *****." The racially explicit song is a parody of the cartoon DuckTales' theme song.  The song aired on a comedy talk radio show, The Red Bar Radio Show, and was posted to YouTube.

Lucas Harris, a former John Marshall football player who is now in college, started recording.  "At first, I was wondering if I hear that right," he said.  "We were all very offended, all very surprised." Harris said John Marshall coaches reacted quickly to calm players. "Really, that just ignited us," Harris said.  "Gave us motivation to go out there and win, and we played our best game of the year.  We really came together as a family. Everybody played their best game of the year."

Henrico school administrators also reacted quickly. A letter of apology was sent from the Glen Allen principal to the John Marshall Principal.  Dr. Gwen Miller says she's appalled and says, "This unfortunate incident does not reflect the broader Glen Allen community."

HCPS sent NBC12 the letter from Glen Allen's principal Dr. Gwen Miller to John Marshall's principal apologizing for the incident.

Principal Miller said:

I do not know how the song made it into the mix of tunes, and we are investigating to determine the source. We regularly review play lists, and I am at a loss as to how such a song was included...Please know this unfortunate incident does not reflect the broader Glen Allen High School community. We are a diverse and inclusive community and are appalled that the instigator of the of this event has sent a message contrary to our beliefs and practices.

The school said they will take appropriate disciplinary action, once they determine the source of the disturbance.

Henrico school board officials say they have also reached out to the Richmond school board and apologized about the incident.

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