A Louisville-area high school principal has issued a letter to parents apologizing for an incident involving students at Ballard High School passing around a watermelon at a football game against the predominantly black Central High School.
A photo of students with the melon was captured by a Louisville Courier Journal photographer, and shared to the paper’s social media channels, and many users were quick to note the racial undertones.
One commenter, however, claimed that students bring watermelon to every game, smashing it like they will their opponents.
Ballard principal Jason Neuss described the stunt as “inappropriate” and “insensitive,” and pledged to investigate who brought the melon and how it was allowed into the stadium in the first place. In his letter, Neuss didn’t mention any tradition among students of bringing melons to all games.
Raymond Green, the principal at Central High School, said that he had spoken several times with Neuss since the incident. Green said he was confident that Neuss would investigate and respond appropriately.
