“She Was Silenced”: Black Valedictorian Barred from Graduation Speech in East Texas

Amari Johnson, a high school senior in East Texas, was abruptly removed from the graduation program after school officials claimed her speech referencing racial justice was “too political.” Her family and local activists say this incident reflects a broader historical pattern of Black students being punished for speaking truth to power. In a region where civil rights have long been suppressed, the controversy has sparked community protests and drawn national attention to the silencing of young Black voices.