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Cancellation of black author's appearances creates controversy in Hoover City Schools
Chip Scarborough
Anchor/Reporter
Cancellation of black author's appearances creates controversy in Hoover City Schools
IN THE DECISION TO CANCEL THE APPEARANCE OF A BLACK CHILDREN’S BOOK AUTHOR IS CREATING SOME CONTROVERSY IN A LOCAL SCHOOL SYSTEM. WVTM 13 CHIP SCARBOROUGH HAS REACTION FROM THE UPSET PARENTS AND ALSO A LOOK AT HOW THE DISTRICT IS RESPONDING. IT’S IMPORTANT FOR ME TO SPEAK UP. KIERRA HARRIS HAS A SON IN THE SECOND GRADE IN THE HOOVER CITY SCHOOL SYSTEM. SHE SAYS SHE’S UPSET TO HEAR THE DISTRICT CANCELED UPCOMING APPEARANCES FOR DERRICK BARNES, A BLACK AUTHOR SCHEDULED TO READ HIS CHILDREN’S BOOKS AT SOME OF THE DISTRICT’S ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS. IT’S NOT SO MUCH ABOUT HIM, NOT COMING, I THINK, AS A DETRIMENT, NOT TO THE CHILDREN OF COLOR NECESSARILY, BUT TO THE CHILDREN WHO ARE NOT EXPOSED TO DIFFERENT VIEWPOINTS. SOME PARENTS ARE SAID TO HAVE RAISED CONCERNS ABOUT SOME OF BARNES VIEWPOINTS POSTED ON SOCIAL MEDIA, PROMPTING OTHERS TO SOUND OFF ON SOCIAL MEDIA. THAT PARENT HAD A PROBLEM WITH THIS AUTHOR. THEY CAN KEEP THEIR KID AT HOME THAT DAY. WHOEVER CITY SCHOOL SENT US A STATEMENT ABOUT BARNES CANCELED APPEARANCES SAYING THE CANCEL PATIENTS ARE, QUOTE, DUE TO THE LACK OF A CONTRACT REQUESTED ON THREE OCCASIONS. IT IS THE DISTRICT’S BUSINESS PRACTICE TO REQUIRE CONTRACTS FOR SERVICES PROVIDED OR GOODS EXCHANGED. AND WHOEVER CONSISTENTLY HAS ISSUES AS IT PERTAINS TO DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION AND HAVING STUDENTS FEEL INCLUDED. BARNES WAS ALSO SET TO SPEAK AT AN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL IN ALABASTER. THE DISTRICT SAYS BARNES NEEDED TO CHANGE HIS SCHEDULED APPEARANCE IN ALABASTER DUE TO WHAT HAPPENED IN HOOVER. A SPOKESPERSON TELLS US BARNES IS STILL INVITED AND THE SCHOOL SYSTEM IS WORKING TO HELP FIND A NEW DATE THAT WORKS FOR BOTH SIDES. IN THE MEANTIME, BARNES WILL INSTEAD VISIT THE HOOVER PUBLIC LIBRARY ON FEBRUARY SEVENTH FROM 5 TO 6:30 P.M. I WOULD HOPE THAT BY THE TIME MY CHILD GRADUATES FROM THE SCHOOL SYSTEM, IF HE GRADUATES FROM THIS SCHOOL SYSTEM, THINGS ARE CHANGING AND I’VE ACTUALLY MADE MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS TO TRY TO REACH BO DEREK BARNES AND HIS BOOKING AGENT TO TALK ABOUT THE CONTROVERSY. SO FAR, I HAVE NOT HEARD BACK FROM EITHER. AND HOOVER C
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Cancellation of black author's appearances creates controversy in Hoover City Schools
Chip Scarborough
Anchor/Reporter
The decision to cancel the appearance of a black children's book author is creating controversy in one Central Alabama school system. Kiara Harris has a son in the second grade in Hoover City Schools. She says she's upset to hear the district canceled upcoming appearances for Derrick Barnes, a black author scheduled to read his children's book at some of the district's elementary schools. "It's not so much about him not coming," Harris explains. "I think it's not a detriment to the children of color necessarily, but to the children who are not exposed to different viewpoints."Some parents are said to have raised concerns about some of Barnes viewpoints posted on social media. This prompted others to sound off on social media."That parent had a problem with that author, they could keep their kid at home that day," parent Lauren Reece posted on social media. Hoover City Schools released a statement about Barnes canceled appearances. The district says the cancellations are "due to the lack of a contract requested on three occasions. It is the district's business practice to require contracts for services provided or goods exchanged.""Hoover consistently has issues as it pertains to equity, diversity and inclusion and having students feel included," Harris says. Barnes was also set to speak at an elementary school in Alabaster. The district says Barnes needed to change his scheduled appearance in Alabaster due to what happened in Hoover. A spokesperson for Alabaster City Schools says Barnes is still invited and the school system is willing to help find a new date that works for both sides. In the meantime, Barnes will instead visit the Hoover Public Library on February 7 from 5:00 to 6:30 p.m."I would hope that by the time my child is graduating from this school system, if he graduates from this school system, things are changing," Harris adds.WVTM 13 made multiple attempts to reach author Derrick Barnes and his booking agent to talk about the controversy. Neither responded to our requests for comment. UPDATE: A spokesperson for Alabaster City Schools tells WVTM 13 that author Derrick Barnes is scheduled to take part in a virtual visit on February 10, which is the original date he was set to visit. The district says its students continue to purchase and study books written by Barnes.
HOOVER, Ala. —

The decision to cancel the appearance of a black children's book author is creating controversy in one Central Alabama school system.

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Kiara Harris has a son in the second grade in Hoover City Schools. She says she's upset to hear the district canceled upcoming appearances for Derrick Barnes, a black author scheduled to read his children's book at some of the district's elementary schools.

"It's not so much about him not coming," Harris explains. "I think it's not a detriment to the children of color necessarily, but to the children who are not exposed to different viewpoints."

Some parents are said to have raised concerns about some of Barnes viewpoints posted on social media. This prompted others to sound off on social media.

"That parent had a problem with that author, they could keep their kid at home that day," parent Lauren Reece posted on social media.

Hoover City Schools released a statement about Barnes canceled appearances. The district says the cancellations are "due to the lack of a contract requested on three occasions. It is the district's business practice to require contracts for services provided or goods exchanged."

"Hoover consistently has issues as it pertains to equity, diversity and inclusion and having students feel included," Harris says.

Barnes was also set to speak at an elementary school in Alabaster. The district says Barnes needed to change his scheduled appearance in Alabaster due to what happened in Hoover. A spokesperson for Alabaster City Schools says Barnes is still invited and the school system is willing to help find a new date that works for both sides.

In the meantime, Barnes will instead visit the Hoover Public Library on February 7 from 5:00 to 6:30 p.m.

"I would hope that by the time my child is graduating from this school system, if he graduates from this school system, things are changing," Harris adds.

WVTM 13 made multiple attempts to reach author Derrick Barnes and his booking agent to talk about the controversy. Neither responded to our requests for comment.

UPDATE: A spokesperson for Alabaster City Schools tells WVTM 13 that author Derrick Barnes is scheduled to take part in a virtual visit on February 10, which is the original date he was set to visit. The district says its students continue to purchase and study books written by Barnes.