Principal Allegedly Described Black Students as “Gorillas” with “Big Lips” and “Nappy Hair”

A Queens, New York high school principal, Minerva Zanca, has caused outrage in the community after two African American teachers filed complaints against her for racial discrimination and harassment.

Over 36,000 signatures are currently on a petition calling for the firing of Minerva Zanca, a high school principal at the Pan American International High School in Queens, NY, due to her racist beliefs and practices. The two African American teachers, John Flanagan and Heather Hightower, were fired by Zanca, but they believe that they were targeted by the principal and purposely given low teaching performance scores due to racial discrimination. Another African American teacher, Lisa-Erika James, decided to quit working at the school because, “she also felt targeted because of her race.”

Assistant Principal Anthony Riccardo confirmed the statements made by these teachers and said he witnessed the racist acts firsthand. He said Zanca referred to the teachers as “gorillas,” and made insensitive comments about their “big lips” and “nappy hair.” The teachers expressed their disgust at the fact that they were treated in such a manner and they also expressed sadness about having to leave behind their Black students without Black teachers. James stated, “We’re the only African American teachers, and all three of us have left – which means there is no African American teachers at the school when over half the population of the students look like us” and Flanagan said “We just really want to hold the principal accountable.”

A petition has been posted on Change.org by Kevin Powell, a friend of James who was disturbed by the conditions in which she was working. The petition calls for the New York Department of Education to terminate Zanca on the grounds of racial discrimination and has received a large outpouring of support and signatures. “I find it unacceptable that a principal can engage in this kind of conduct without any repercussions. We are not going to stop until due justice and process is served here”, said Powell about what he hoped to achieve with the petition.

What do you think of the treatment these teachers endured?