FARMINGTON, Mich. (WWJ) – Some students walked out of class at Farmington High School on Thursday after a teacher used a racist phrase directed at a Black student.
The incident, captured on video, according to reports, happened during a morning English class when the substitute said “get your cotton picking hands off it.”
While it was not clear what prompted the situation, the phrase was an apparent reference to slavery.
The teacher was also heard on video apologizing to the student, and said she did not mean any harm by the use of the phrase, but after students pointed it out, she understood their concern.
School officials say the teacher was removed from the school and will not be returning to Farmington High or any other building in the district.
Around 1 p.m. Thursday several students walked out of the school and headed down the street to the district’s administration building, where they spoke with the superintendent and voiced their concerns.
The superintendent says high school administrators are working to support anyone who was hurt or concerned by the incident.
Video posted to Twitter shows the students walking toward the administration building, chanting “Black Live Matter,” while passing cars honk their horns.
The teacher has not been identified.