A Fargo, N.D., elementary school canceled an upcoming performance of the Village People’s classic song “Y.M.C.A” by its first grade after a parent objected to the “racist” representation of Native Americans in one of the costumes involved.
Students at Bennett Elementary School were set to perform the song in a talent show later this month. Teachers asked parents to dress their kids as one of the group’s members, choosing from a policeman, a cowboy, a biker, a construction worker, or a Native American.
One parent, Elaine Bolman, protested that dressing up as a Native American was inappropriate and perpetuated stereotypes, according to the Forum of Fargo-Moorhead, and the performance was off.
“I’m not in a position to do anything for these educators, and hopefully those people that are can make the right choices so all students of any culture and race won’t feel singled out or like their race is being stereotyped against,” she told the newspaper.