About the Author

The author is a white Anti-Racist, Social Justice Advocate. She seeks knowledge and truths surrounding the interconnections of the historical and contemporary issues of racism across the globe.

With knowledge and truth comes responsibility. As a woman who is part of the dominate white culture and a citizen of the world, there is a responsibility to share information that will

lead to a more culturally humble society.

The author at times reacts in an emotionally charged manner but does so with a

good heart and from a good place.

The author is of the belief that there is only one race label and that is the Human Race.


May 29th, 2015

Coatesville School District Two Years Ago

This is the time of year for high school proms and graduations. Two years ago on June 4, 2013, racially charged messages exchanged between Coatesville School District Superintendent Richard Como and Jim Donato Director of Athletics and Activities using district-issued cell phones. September of 2013 the Coatesville School Board convened and there was a public outcry including this issue, the length of time that it took for the incident to become public knowledge, the back door meetings which occurred over the summer and last but certainly NOT least, was the insult on top of the injury that these two racist individuals were allowed to resign with their retirement pensions intact!!

This incident was just the beginning.  In the spring of 2015 after a lengthy investigation by the Chester County District Attorney’s office, Richard Como, 68, was arraigned on 51 felony counts of theft, fraud, and related charges at a Coatesville district court.

Why can’t I let this situation rest you ask???  Has justice truly prevailed??  Once again the themes of politics and money over shadows the core racist behavior of individuals who began to believe he/they were untouchable. Racism is power based and Mr. Como who has white privilege maintained his control by leveraging against white people who were not as savvy as he, to do the bidding with and for him.

More horrendous is that he gained the support of minority parents by appearing to the masses that he had a genuine concern for the welfare and future of their children.  Como was a powerful white person who had an economic agenda…to steal money from the school district, community, taxpayers, residents and the children.

I personally know several minority parents whose children went through the Coatesville school district as well as, excelled in numerous high school sports. They ALL believed Como’s sincerity when visits were paid at the hospital when their child was injured or he congratulated them when their child was one of the major contributors to a Coatesville High School sports team winning a regional or state competition.

The bottom line is this, while I believe that those who commit fraud and theft need to be prosecuted, I am also of the belief that the Chester County District Attorney’s office could have done more than score political points. They could have created numerous opportunities in which to shed light on these racist individuals and their derogatory and racists behaviors and characterization of innocent children throughout the investigation and legal proceedings.

So what happened to the children who are the TRUE victims in this entire story as well as their families and the Black community as a whole?? I don't want to hear "well we can't prosecute them for hate crimes but at least we got them for 51 felonies".   Yes this is true and as a resident of Chester County, I am relieved to some degree. But from a Anti-Racist  perspective and a mother, once again, the power base of the dominate white culture both the white collar criminals and the Judicial system, took control and changed the entire story line, by  putting the vile racist characterization of children as secondary  back page news.

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