Maya Peterson paid the ultimate price for upsetting white students at a $53,000 a year prep school in New Jersey. While serving as the first black and female class president of the prestigious boarding school, Lawrenceville School, Peterson was reprimanded and forced to step down from her position.
According to BuzzFeed, white students became upset after Peterson and other black students posted a year book photo where they held their fists high to symbolize black power. The white students viewed the photo as hateful and Peterson mocked their outrage by posting a photo of herself dressed as a typical white male at the school.
After receiving criticism, Peterson responded by writing, “Yes, I am making a mockery of the right-wing, confederate-flag hanging, openly misogynistic Lawrentians. If that’s a large portion of the school’s male population, then I think the issue is not with my bringing attention to it in a lighthearted way, but rather why no one has brought attention to it before.”
The picture and the comment led to backslash that eventually ended when Peterson was asked to resign as president. She also faced similar outrage from white students after President Barack Obama was re-elected in 2012.
“As a black and Latino, gay woman in the United States of America, today is a momentous day. I’m sorry to all the rich white men who have failed to elect a president that endorses their greed,” she wrote.
A white student responded by suggesting Peterson received financial aid that was provided by white men who “worked for their fortune.” However, Peterson’s family pays for her to attend without receiving benefits.
Peterson believes that racism from white students is often ignored. Black students have said they have been called “Negro amigo,” the N-word, and Trayvon in reference to the deceased Trayvon Martin.
Peterson has stood by her decision to post the pictures. She believes that white privileged males are idolized at her school.
