CHERRY HILL, N.J. _ A controversial production of the musical "Ragtime" that uses the N-word will be performed this spring at Cherry Hill High School East, district officials announced Friday.
Superintendent Joseph Meloche said the New Jersey school district would allow its theater students to present the award-winning play as it was written with the racial slur. The only other option was not to perform the play, he said.
"In coming to a decision, our focus remains on our students, on their safety and their development _ which has always been and will always remain our top priority," Meloche said in a statement released Friday afternoon.
Meloche reversed his decision announced last week banning the use of the N-word. He had proposed substituting another word for the racial slur, or eliminating it along with other derogatory words for other ethnic groups.
"I loathe the word. I don't believe the word should be used ever," Meloche said in an interview Friday in his office at the district's administration building.
Meloche made the decision a day after meeting with more a dozen community leaders and school officials on Thursday. He took full responsibility for the decision, which he said was not based on a vote by the school board, which has two minority members.
Ragtime depicts the fictional story of a black family, a Jewish immigrant family and an Eastern European family in New Rochelle, N.Y., at the turn of the century. It includes themes of racism, intolerance and injustice. The N-word is uttered several times by a white character.
Because of copyright and licensing laws, Music Theatre International, the New York theatrical agency that licensed the play, would not approve any changes to the script.
Before the play hits the stage, Meloche said students at Cherry Hill East, one of two high schools in the district of 11,350 students, will discuss some of the themes from "Ragtime" in English and history classes. All students will see the play during school, the superintendent said.
Meloche said signs will be displayed at the play to alert the audience about the themes and language in the play. The cast will also make a brief statement before the curtain goes up at each performance, he said. A talk-back session will be held with the audience after one of the Sunday matinees, he said.
"We will make it abundantly clear that we loathe the N-word, that we despise this most vile of words in our language," Meloche said.
Civil rights groups objected to the use of the N-word and petitioned the district to scrap the play. The mother of a black student at Cherry Hill East who is a stage hand in the production, complained to the NAACP.
The controversy has brought national attention from Broadway stars, people affiliated with the arts and civic groups. They argued that the play should be presented with the historical context and language of the time period to accurately reflect the bigotry and racism of that time.
At a heated school board meeting Tuesday appeals were made by both sides. An online petition started by students asking the district to allow the show to proceed with the racial slur has received nearly 2,000 signatures.
Among those protesting any changes in the script is Brian Stokes Mitchell, who was nominated for a Tony for his role as Coalhouse Walker Jr. in "Ragtime."
