School Cancels Play Because Of 'N-Word' In Dialogue

COLUMBUS, Ind. -- Columbus East High School has canceled its student production of "To Kill a Mockingbird" because of concerns over a racially sensitive word in the play's dialogue.

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School Cancels Play Because Of 'N-Word' In Dialogue

The school's drama teacher asked the play's publisher to let the students take the "N-word" out of the dialogue, but the publisher refused, Principal William Jensen said.

Jensen said students worked for five weeks on the play, which never got to the dress rehearsal phase. He said some of the students are not happy with the decision.

"I think it's one of those things where we've got to look at the whole picture," Jensen told RTV6's Sy Jenkins Wednesday.

Before the play was canceled, the drama teacher asked Gwendolyn Wiggins, president of the local chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, what she thought of using the word in the play. Wiggins said she didn't want students to hear it.

"That would be giving another reason to say, 'OK, if they use it in the play, we can say it outside the play.' And that's not right," Wiggins said.

"To Kill a Mockingbird" is a story about racial injustice in Alabama in the 1930s. It was first a book, and it later became a movie in which actor Gregory Peck won his first Academy Award.

Wiggins said she supports the story's message, but she doesn't like the way it is delivered, particularly when it is delivered to high school students.

"Don't we have some positive things going on with black people that we can highlight now? Find those plays and use them," she said.

The school's decision came as a local children's museum prepared an exhibit about discrimination that will feature the word in question. The exhibit, which will be displayed this weekend, will have a sign warning people that it contains strong language.