The event meant to build school spirit at Queen Creek High School instead has angered civil rights leaders in Arizona.
School officials said the intent of Wednesday’s event was to satirize the A&E reality TV show “Duck Dynasty,” which follows a family of duck hunters and entrepreneurs from West Monroe, La.
When members of the student council at an Arizona high school organized a schoolwide “Redneck Day” and encouraged classmates to dress — and spoof — accordingly, they hoped to build school spirit leading up to prom week.
Instead, “Redneck Day” at Queen Creek High School has angered African-Americans and civil-rights leaders and touched off a debate about free speech, social stereotypes and good taste.
Tom Lindsey, superintendent of the Queen Creek Unified School District, said the only intent of Wednesday’s event was to satirize the A&E reality TV show “Duck Dynasty,” which follows a family of duck hunters and entrepreneurs from West Monroe, La.
But some students and their family members weren’t amused. Among them: the Rev. Ozetta Kirby, pastor of Holy Trinity Community AME Church in Mesa and vice president of the East Valley chapter of the NAACP.
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