Judge Assigns Reading List to Teens After Defacing Historic Black Schoolhouse

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In a rather unique twist of justice, a judge has mandated that a group of Virginia teenagers turn their vandalism into an educational opportunity. The five teens, aged 16 and 17, found themselves in hot water after defacing the Ashburn Colored School—an important 19th-century institution for Black children during segregation—by spray-painting racist and anti-Semitic graffiti, including swastikas and messages like “brown power” and “white power.”

Instead of the usual community service or probation, the court decided that the best way to teach these youths about the gravity of their actions was through literature. Each teen is now required to read one book a month for a whole year and submit a report on their insights. The selection includes 35 thought-provoking titles that delve into themes of diversity, racism, and the struggles faced by marginalized communities. Notable reads include I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou, Night by Elie Wiesel, and The Color Purple by Alice Walker—books that evoke emotions and perspectives unattainable through mere conversation.

Deputy Commonwealth Attorney, Mia Thompson, who proposed this literary sentence, expressed her belief that reading would help instill a deeper understanding of the issues at hand. “These kids need to appreciate the significance of what they did,” she said. “Reading can be a powerful tool for empathy.”

As part of their sentence, the teens will also visit a Holocaust museum and the Smithsonian’s exhibit on Japanese-American internment camps, further broadening their horizons. They will also need to write a paper exploring the symbolism of swastikas and how messages of “white power” affect African-American communities.

Deep Sran, the founder of the private school that owns the Ashburn Colored School, lamented the vandalism as “profoundly disappointing,” highlighting that the incident serves as a grim reminder of America’s troubled history. The local attorney’s office, while acknowledging the teens’ lack of understanding of their actions, emphasized the opportunity to transform this episode into a learning experience.

In a world where understanding and empathy are ever more crucial, these teens are now on a path to enlightenment—thanks to the written word. Who knew that a judge’s ruling could lead to a literary journey?

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In summary, after vandalizing a historic black schoolhouse, five Virginia teens have been ordered by a judge to read books and reflect on the implications of their actions. This unconventional punishment aims to educate them on diversity and racism, with the hope that it will foster understanding and empathy.