Thursday, December 2, 2021

Lee Discusses Effects of Racist Prior Lake Video

Headshot of Dr. Rich Lee
KSTP interviewed Rich Lee, on the psychological impact of the racist video shared on social media by a Prior Lake High School student.

The one-minute video, which contained racial slurs and telling someone to kill themselves, was targeting Prior Lake High School student Nya Sigin. Sigin shared how deeply upsetting the video was, calling it the worst thing she had ever witnessed. Lee shares that this video is a reflection of the current racial climate and an example of how systemic racism manifests in adolescents. With social media, Lee says that racial discrimination can have just of a negative impact as in-person discrimination.

Lee noted that the burden should not be on communities of color to educate Whites. White families must take responsibility for educating their children by having uncomfortable but necessary conversations about racism and race relations.


Composed by Flora Pollack, communications assistant.