Advertisement

Performance of 'YMCA' at talent show by first-grade class cancelled for being 'racist'

Bennett Elementary School in Fargo won't allow the show to go on.

By Evan Bleier
Members of the pop music group Village People (L-R back row) Ray Simpson, Alexander Briley and Eric Anzalone, (L-R front row) David Hodo, Felipe Rose and Jeff Olson ham it up during unveiling ceremonies honoring the group with the 2,369th star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in Los Angeles on September 12, 2008. (File/UPI Photo/Jim Ruymen)
Members of the pop music group Village People (L-R back row) Ray Simpson, Alexander Briley and Eric Anzalone, (L-R front row) David Hodo, Felipe Rose and Jeff Olson ham it up during unveiling ceremonies honoring the group with the 2,369th star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in Los Angeles on September 12, 2008. (File/UPI Photo/Jim Ruymen) | License Photo

Subscribe | UPI Odd Newsletter

FARGO, N.D., May 14 (UPI) -- A North Dakota elementary school will not be allowing the young men and women in a first-grade class to perform YMCA at a talent show because a parent dubbed the planned performance "racist."

Students at Bennett Elementary School in Fargo were supposed to sing the famous Village People song during a May talent show.

Advertisement

The kids were supposed to come up dressed up like members of the '70s group - a policeman, a cowboy, a biker, a construction worker and a Native American.

Parent Elaine Bolman found it offensive that her daughter or her classmates would be asked to dress up like a stereotypical Native American caricature.

"I'm not in a position to do anything for these educators, and hopefully those people that are can make the right choices so all students of any culture and race won't feel singled out or like their race is being stereotyped against," Bolman told Inforum.

Latest Headlines