

This reproduction of a 1900 William H. West minstrel show the transformation from white to "black". (Wikipedia)

Many parents and students are rallying in support of popular Monroe Middle School teacher Alan Barron who was recently suspended for showing a video on black history that offended an assistant principal who was sitting in on the class.

The Monroe News reports that two weeks ago the school district placed Barron, 59, on administrative leave with pay. He is set to retire this year after teaching 36 years.

Ray Kisonas of the Monroe News writes that Barron was discussing the Jim Crow racial segregation laws and as part of the class he showed a video of how white people back then used blackface to imitate African Americans during what they considered entertainment in the 1800s.

Kisonas wrote:

According to parents whose children are in the eighth- grade class, the administrator thought the lesson plan was offensive and racist. Mr. Barron was suspended the next day Adrienne Aaron’s husband is African American, and their child was in the class. She said Mr. Barron simply was showing the students what occurred in history. She said her daughter was not offended and felt the subject needs to be discussed.

Many Facebook comments have been supportive of Barron under the article posted about his suspension.