Senior Prank Taken Too Far

As seniors in high schools show increasing excitement each day as the last day of high school for them is getting closer, the schools must brace themselves for the last and biggest hurdle which is the senior pranks that will be happening. Every year, unique senior pranks are seen in a lot of schools and some of them are indeed funny but there are also ones that could be taken as offensive to some people.

In this article, there is a story about a senior prank that was taken too far at a high school outside of Atlanta. A bunch of senior students at this high school hung a banner from the school's rooftop that said "N---a We Made It." The sign was meant for celebrating graduation, but it obviously struck many people who read it as offensive. The phrase on the banner was taken from the lyrics of a song written by the rapper Drake. Every year, there are senior pranks that involve offensive images or languages to a certain group of people. As many teachers and parents show concern for these excessive and offensive senior pranks happening every year, I think it is inevitable that these kind of pranks come out because these offensive words became a part of the American culture. The rapper Drake is a very popular rapper in America and his songs could be heard on the radio very frequently. Many of his songs have explicit language in it, and although the words are censored, it is very obvious what was actually being said. I feel like in our culture today, many offensive words that are frequently used are considered as "cool words" rather than words that was once used to disdain a certain group of people.

The principal of the high school in Atlanta commented that, "Even though it's a popular song lyric that you appreciate and like doesn't mean the whole world and our society in general are going to appreciate that." I found it interesting that the principal used the word "popular" because popular  means that something has been accepted by a large number of people. The hit song that included the phrase on the banner written by Drake became popular because many people liked it, which means most of them have accepted the lyrics too. Any kids or teenagers nowadays would inevitably come in contact with these offensive words in the American culture that is present today. Even in New Trier, which is considered to be one of the top schools in the nation, offensive phrases could be heard every day and no students react to these words because they have simply become a natural part in our society. I understand that the principal had to say those comments to fit in the good principal image, and the n-word phrase written on the banner was certainly offensive to some people, however no matter how many solutions the schools come up with, students will continue to use offensive words on a regular basis because they have been "accepted" by the society.