At Atlanta Beatz, we celebrate the best of Georgia’s culture, but we also believe it’s our duty to call out injustices and hold institutions accountable. Last week, at a high school volleyball match between Whitewater Valley High and LaGrange High School, that responsibility became painfully clear
Photos from the game went viral for all the wrong reasons: four attendees—two young men and two young women—showed up with their exposed skin painted black, wearing Afro-style wigs, and letters on their chests spelling “RYLEE.”
Blackface is a historically racist practice of non-Black performers using makeup to caricature and mock Black people
Rooted in 19th-century minstrel shows, the tradition perpetuated harmful and demeaning stereotypes of African Americans. Today, it is widely condemned as a symbol of white supremacy and racial disrespect.
Democratic State Representative and gubernatorial candidate Derrick Jackson asked the question many are asking: “I’m trying to figure out why in 2025, this is not entertainment, this is not cute, this is not fun—why would someone in 2025 do this?” It’s a question the schools, the families, and the wider community must answer.
A man speaking on behalf of the individuals in the photo claimed it was a “blackout-themed” game and they were supporting a Whitewater player. But “blackout” spirit nights mean wearing all-black clothes—not painting your skin and donning Afro wigs. The fact that no one stopped to question this before it reached the stands shows just how normalized cultural ignorance still is.
This is not simply a teachable moment for four individuals; it’s a wake-up call for an entire community. Cultural competency and racial sensitivity should not be optional extras in our schools—they are prerequisites for creating environments where students of all backgrounds feel respected.
Georgia’s young people deserve better than to see racism dressed up as “spirit.” They deserve adults who model empathy, historical understanding, and accountability. Until we confront these incidents head-on with clear policies, honest conversations, and real consequences we risk normalizing behaviors that should have been relegated to history books long ago. This wasn’t just unsportsmanlike conduct; it was a moral failure. And unless schools and communities treat it as such, we will keep repeating it.
Our call to action: The Fayette County School System and the Georgia High School Association must launch a full investigation, require cultural sensitivity training for students and staff, and adopt clear guidelines for school “spirit” themes to ensure they cannot be misused in racially offensive ways. Community leaders and parents must also be part of the solution talking openly about race and history with their children, and insisting on accountability when lines are crossed.
Only then can we ensure that what happened at this volleyball game becomes a turning point, not another shameful footnote.
—The Editorial Board, Atlanta Beatz Magazine
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