Morning Exchange: Debating Racial Issues in the Home

I really enjoyed listening to students from Brentwood High School talk yesterday about racial issues in their school and community. It was part of the school's effort to promote Black History Month. Students debated whether the N-word should be used in literature and pop culture and wondered whether anyone could actually define "black culture" and "white culture."

I really appreciated hearing  15- through 18-year-old students confront these issues without hesitation. Afterward, I saw a wide smile on assistant principal Ed Johnson's face as he told me how proud he was of the students for being so bold. He suggested adults could learn a lot by listening to their kids in the schools.

Does your family do anything different to celebrate Black History Month? What types of racial issues do you talk about with your kids or friends?

Where We'll Be

• The Maplewood police blotter will be posted a little later.
• will have a story from last night's Maplewood Richmond Heights Board of Education meeting, where board members talked about construction delays and makeup days because of weather cancellations.
• I'll be at the tonight to snap some photos and will cover the Brentwood boys game against Barat Academy.

What else should we be working on? Have a news tip or story suggestion? Leave a note in the comments box below or shoot me an e-mail at ryan.martin@patch.com.