Madison High School Security Guard Who Was Fired for Telling Student Not to Use N-Word Says He Has His Job Back

By Molly Beck, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

22 October 19

high school security guard in Madison got his job back Monday after outrage over his termination spread across the country, prompting school district officials to overturn their decision to fire him for saying the N-word while urging a student not to call him the racial slur.

Marlon Anderson told supporters Monday his termination from the Madison School District was rescinded, five days after he was fired over the episode that drew outcry from thousands — including the former U.S. secretary of education and superstar Cher.

"I'm back!!" Anderson posted on Facebook. "Now we have to address the policy!! God is good!!!!"

A spokeswoman for the Madison School District did not answer questions about Anderson's announcement, but Madison Teachers Inc. union executive director Doug Keillor said Anderson will receive full pay and benefits until his return to school is finalized.

“MTI is pleased to see the District rescind the termination of Marlon Anderson, paving the way for him to return to the incredible work he does with Madison’s students," Keillor said.

But on Tuesday, Anderson said he wasn't sure when he would actually return to campus. He said district officials haven't finalized the terms of his employment status with the district.

"I'm back ... but just not physically back," Anderson said.

Anderson was fired under a zero-tolerance policy district officials adopted after firing or forcing to resign six district employees for using racial slurs in front of or at students.

But Anderson, who is black, was fired for telling an unruly student who also is black not to use the racial slur while repeating it himself in making his point.

More than 1,000 students — including Anderson's own son — walked out of classrooms Friday to protest the school district's decision. Days later, the district relented.

Anderson said he will instead be placed on paid administrative leave while he and district officials negotiate a "transition plan."

On Oct. 9, Anderson was escorting a disruptive male student out of Madison's West High School building when the student started calling Anderson the N-word after pushing the school's assistant principal and threatening to beat her up.

In responding to the abusive language, Anderson says he said the word himself in making a point to the student not to use it. The assistant principal turned on her portable two-way radio, allowing school administrators to hear the exchange, Anderson said.

"Every type of N-word you can think of, that’s what he was calling me," Anderson told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel on Friday. "I said, do not call me that name. I'm not your N-word. Do not call me that."

West High School Principal Karen Boran later that week pulled Anderson aside, he said, and told him he had "an uphill battle" to keep his job." And in a letter Wednesday, Boran told parents a staff member — Anderson — would not be returning to the school after an investigation of the incident.

"As you know, our expectation when it comes to racial slurs has been very clear," Boran wrote. "Regardless of context or circumstance, racial slurs are not acceptable in our schools."

Anderson called the policy "lazy."

"You can’t eliminate racism by ignoring it — by trying to hide the word or by trying to legislate the word," he said. "What if a white student calls a black student an N-word but doesn’t say the word? It's the intent behind what you’re saying."

Anderson's reinstatement came after Madison School Board President Gloria Reyes asked district officials to give the 11-year district veteran his job back.

The school board had until then largely stayed quiet on the details of the incident, but board member Savion Castro on Saturday called the situation "incredibly frustrating."

"While I can't comment on the specifics of Marlon Anderson's case because I would limit potential options to remedy in the future, I can say the situation is incredibly frustrating because a black man and black child were sharing an incredibly vulnerable moment together in one of our schools," said Castro, who is one of two board members who are black. "Historically, educational spaces have disciplined black and brown bodies out of those spaces for simply being who we are, including language."

While Anderson has been away from his job, a colleague started a fundraiser to help Anderson and his family. As of Monday, the effort had raised more than $12,000 for the Anderson family.