Emanuele Berry

During the pandemic, they would sit on FaceTime together and hang out. Katie was a person who could talk Nevaeh down when she was stressed, especially about school. They were also goofballs together. They'd go to the mall just to try on outrageous outfits and crack each other up.

During the pandemic, they would sit on FaceTime together and hang out. Katie was a person who could talk Nevaeh down when she was stressed, especially about school. They were also goofballs together. They'd go to the mall just to try on outrageous outfits and crack each other up.

The racist thing that happened to Nevaeh, the thing that led to those heated school board meetings, that happened in the spring of 2021. And it started with a text from Katie.

The racist thing that happened to Nevaeh, the thing that led to those heated school board meetings, that happened in the spring of 2021. And it started with a text from Katie.

Nevaeh wasn't really sure what Katie was talking about, so she brushed it off. She woke up the next morning to more messages from Katie about what happened in the group chat.

Nevaeh wasn't really sure what Katie was talking about, so she brushed it off. She woke up the next morning to more messages from Katie about what happened in the group chat.

The group chat was called Slave Trade. with two purple devil emojis. It's about half a dozen mostly white students listing their Black classmates for sale, posting their pictures and throwing out bids, as if they're in an auction, like a slave auction. Apparently, Nevaeh was one of the people in the chat who was quote-unquote put up for sale.

The group chat was called Slave Trade. with two purple devil emojis. It's about half a dozen mostly white students listing their Black classmates for sale, posting their pictures and throwing out bids, as if they're in an auction, like a slave auction. Apparently, Nevaeh was one of the people in the chat who was quote-unquote put up for sale.

The chat is essentially a private text thread that after some time disappears, a feature of the Snapchat app. Some students tell the school district about the chat. The school calls Nevaeh's mom and the parents of other students. And it's while her mom's on the phone with the school that it all starts to sink in.

The chat is essentially a private text thread that after some time disappears, a feature of the Snapchat app. Some students tell the school district about the chat. The school calls Nevaeh's mom and the parents of other students. And it's while her mom's on the phone with the school that it all starts to sink in.

This is what they say. First screenshot, one student. What up, niggas? New group chat for making fun of Black people. In reply, very nice. Another screenshot. All Blacks should die. Let's have another Holocaust. Yay, someone cheers. I concur, says another. Picture of a black kid. Homo goes for 50. Man sus. He comes as a bonus. He's free. Someone else adds, man so gay, I'll kill him for Jesus.

This is what they say. First screenshot, one student. What up, niggas? New group chat for making fun of Black people. In reply, very nice. Another screenshot. All Blacks should die. Let's have another Holocaust. Yay, someone cheers. I concur, says another. Picture of a black kid. Homo goes for 50. Man sus. He comes as a bonus. He's free. Someone else adds, man so gay, I'll kill him for Jesus.

Another screenshot. Picture of another black student. Negative 10 for autism, someone says. 50% off sale. Picture of two black teenagers. Someone says they can run, but they can't hide. 100 each. Double the trouble. They like picking cotton. Someone makes an offer. I'll take them for 150 as the pair. Another screenshot. Picture of Nevaeh.

Another screenshot. Picture of another black student. Negative 10 for autism, someone says. 50% off sale. Picture of two black teenagers. Someone says they can run, but they can't hide. 100 each. Double the trouble. They like picking cotton. Someone makes an offer. I'll take them for 150 as the pair. Another screenshot. Picture of Nevaeh.

She's in a red crop top and jeans and a hat, posing near a tree. Written underneath. Starting bid 100. EU someone comments. Another EU, followed by another.

She's in a red crop top and jeans and a hat, posing near a tree. Written underneath. Starting bid 100. EU someone comments. Another EU, followed by another.

It's almost like Nevaeh's inside the darker, not funny version of the Eddie Murphy skit. Maybe you've seen it. The one where he goes undercover as a white man and discovers all the things white people do when there aren't Black people in the room. She had a new window into who her classmates were in private in these screenshots. It was the spring of 2021. Luckily, she was in remote school.

It's almost like Nevaeh's inside the darker, not funny version of the Eddie Murphy skit. Maybe you've seen it. The one where he goes undercover as a white man and discovers all the things white people do when there aren't Black people in the room. She had a new window into who her classmates were in private in these screenshots. It was the spring of 2021. Luckily, she was in remote school.

She wouldn't have to face them until her junior year started in the fall. Nevaeh's mom, Jayla, saw the screenshots and the words, all Blacks should die, and worried for Nevaeh's safety. She emailed all the school board members, went back and forth with school administrators. She felt like no one was taking it seriously. She called the police. The police investigated the group chat.

She wouldn't have to face them until her junior year started in the fall. Nevaeh's mom, Jayla, saw the screenshots and the words, all Blacks should die, and worried for Nevaeh's safety. She emailed all the school board members, went back and forth with school administrators. She felt like no one was taking it seriously. She called the police. The police investigated the group chat.