Following the racial injustice uprisings of 2020, public schools and institutions of higher education nationwide have re-examined their racist caricatures of indigenous peoples and have altered their mascots and symbols to reflect a more respectful (or unaffiliated) representation of their student bodies. We call upon the Savannah-Chatham County Public School System to do the same with our school, Herschel V. Jenkins High.

The American Psychological Association finds that “...The continued use of American Indian mascots, symbols, images, and personalities…teach non-Indian children that it's acceptable to participate in culturally abusive behavior and perpetuate inaccurate misconceptions about American Indian culture.…” which perpetuates a system discriminatory against American Indigenous residents of Georgia and the United States.

Additionally, the National Congress of American Indians states that "...[Native] sports mascots are symbols of disrespect that degrade, mock, and harm Native people, particularly Native youth," which directly contradicts Guiding Principle 4 (A safe, secure, healthy, and positive environment is essential for the education of all,) and 7 (Positive relationships with all stakeholders are built through a culture of diversity, equity, inclusion, respect, and transparency,) as laid out in the SCCPSS 2026 "Way Forward" strategic plan. 

As members of the Savannah-Chatham County Public School System, we feel that our schools are meant to be institutions of growth, which includes adaptation to changing societal values such as racial and cultural representation. By actively teaching our students and staff that the non-consensual, racially profiling use of marginalized caricatures is acceptable, we are encouraging a hostile environment that promotes harmful thinking and decreases the quality of life and learning for all students.

We call on the Savannah-Chatham County School Board to re-examine and consult with Native tribes in and around the city of Savannah and the state of Georgia to adequately alter the H.V. Jenkins High School mascot into one that is respectful and representative of our local community's cultural diversity, with additional input from SCCPSS student and faculty bodies.