FITZGERALD, Ga. (WALB) - Some parents whose children attend Fitzgerald High School College and Career Academy said their children were treated unfairly at their school’s Prom and Senior Night.

Shantia McCray said her daughter and other Black female students were treated unfairly when they were dress-coded, but students of other races wearing similar dresses were not. Until the parents started to point them out, and even then, they said some still got away with it.

“I left crying, and my daughter was upset,” McCray said. “To have her pulled to the side and other Black girls pulled to the side — You just don’t know how to take that as a parent.”

According to the dress code provided by the school, students were not allowed to wear backless dresses pass the naval, two-piece dresses that showed the students midriff, dresses with slits that exceeded the mid-thigh or dresses that have cuts, slits or see-through mesh that exposes skin.

While some parents of the Black female students said they agree, some students did break those rules, they said the concerns arose when students of other races were able to get away with breaking the rules.

“She was crying. They were telling her what was revealing, saying her split was too high, and her top was cut too low. I saw other dresses, matter fact, a similar dress, the same. And I’m like ‘no this can’t be possible,‘” Shaneka Paschal, a mother of one of the students who was dress-coded, said.

After the students were dress-coded, parents said they were sent to the restroom where staff provided black cloth, scissors and safety pins to make alterations to the dresses.

“The situation didn’t make any sense that day. I’m pointing out different kids like ‘You don’t see this child? You don’t see this child?’ And they stood as if we weren’t even talking to them. No matter what your skin color is, everybody should be dress-coded,” McCray, said.

Parents said even though the event has passed, they believe the school system should reconsider the dress code for the future.

“They dress totally different now. They dress with the mesh. Most people go to seamstress and get their dresses made,” McCray said. “Although my child is leaving this year. I still have nieces, nephews and family members that are going to have to come up in this same school system. So if it’s not handled at this moment, it’s going to continue to go on, and possibly get worse.”

Parents said they feel the school board needs to address the high school’s administration.

“It’s accountability. If you’re going to do that for one person or student, you have to do it for every last one of them. That’s not what happened,” Paschal said.

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