Once known for its idyllic neighborhoods and top-tier public schools, the wealthy Dallas suburb of Southlake has found itself at the center of a heated battle over race, education, and belonging. The tension began brewing in 2018 when two videos of white students saying the N-word went viral, prompting a wave of outrage and a promise of change from local leaders. But as attempts to address racism in schools gained momentum, so did a fierce backlash that threatened to divide the community.
The controversy began in 2018 during a homecoming dance at Carroll High School. Students joyfully sang along to popular rap songs, many of which included the N-word, but things escalated at an after-party where a group of white students recorded themselves chanting the word. The video was posted on social media, where it quickly spread, drawing widespread condemnation and forcing school officials to respond.
Community leaders, including the Carroll Independent School District, pledged to address racism and create a more inclusive environment. Initially, the reaction was positive. Parents, educators, and students of all backgrounds appeared united in their resolve to make Southlake a safer place for students of color. Conservative white parents even joined community dialogues, expressing their support for change.
Inspired by the outrage, the school district formed a diversity council to develop a comprehensive plan to tackle issues of racism and discrimination. For nearly two years, the group, made up of parents, students, and local leaders, worked on a plan to present to the school board. But as news of the proposed diversity plan spread, opposition began to build.
A second viral video in early 2019 added more fuel to the fire. This time, the video featured another group of white students using the N-word. For families of color, these incidents were not isolated; they were part of a larger pattern of racism that had persisted in the community for years. But for some white parents, the reaction to these incidents felt like an attack on their values, leading to accusations of “reverse racism” and claims that the diversity plan was a “woke agenda.”
Southlake’s public schools, which have long been praised for their high academic standards, have become a focal point for this clash. Once an overwhelmingly white district, the Carroll Independent School District has grown more diverse over the last two decades, with white students now making up 63% of the student body, down from 80% two decades ago. This demographic shift has brought about new challenges, especially for families of color who moved to Southlake for its acclaimed schools but have found themselves navigating a hostile environment.
Parents like Robin Cornish, who moved her family to Southlake to give her children access to the best education, describe a community where students of color face a constant barrage of racist remarks. Her children, she said, were often targeted with jokes and comments that ranged from ignorant to deeply hurtful. “I’m disappointed in me,” said Cornish, reflecting on whether she did a disservice to her kids by moving to Southlake. “Did I give a pass on a lot of stuff because I was trying to do better for my kids?”
Among the students who stood up against racism in Southlake was Raven Rolle, who became known for her courage in confronting discrimination. A former student at Carroll, she had spent her school years hearing racist slurs and reporting them to the administration, earning a reputation for speaking out. “I hated my hair,” she said, recounting how her classmates would tease her for her appearance. But the harassment didn’t stop there.
In one incident, Raven overheard a white classmate using the N-word, just weeks after the second viral video. Despite the outrage from adults pledging to address racism, many white students at the school were doubling down, defending their right to use the word. For Raven and other students of color, it was clear that the fight was far from over.
