Whistleblower: LBUSD Fails Black Faculty and Students in Lakewood
LONG BEACH, Calif. — John Solomon, a teacher at MacArthur Elementary in Lakewood and secretary of the Teachers Association of Long Beach (TALB), has been placed on administrative leave after circulating a racist photo of a Black child in a union group chat. The image showed a child on a toy box with an ankle monitor and the message, “We need this for our runners.”
While TALB called for Solomon’s resignation, the Long Beach Unified School District (LBUSD) initially declined to investigate, raising questions about how the district handles complaints tied to race and institutional power. Lakewood, some educators say, reflects a deeper issue which is the persistent marginalization of Black students and staff within LBUSD.
Whistleblowers tell The Voice of Black Los Angeles that before the Solomon incident, non-Black personnel in positions of influence openly shared harmful stereotypes about Black children—portraying them as more violent, disruptive, or overall unwanted on campus.
Solomon continues to maintain that his phone was hacked.
However, the group chat message reinforces longstanding stereotypes of Black children as “runners”—a dog whistle term often applied to students, particularly those with special needs or on the autism spectrum, who may leave classrooms.
The controversy comes four years after LBUSD adopted its Excellence and Equity policy in 2021. The policy is intended to end systemic racism and discrimination affecting students based on race, culture, and disability. It also centers the needs of Black, Indigenous, and other students of color (BIPOC), as well as students with disabilities.
Read More: Teachers union official under pressure to resign over image of Black child wearing ankle monitor
Despite these commitments, incidents like the Solomon case and reports of racist teacher and student behavior, as well as retaliation against Black faculty, have left many questioning whether LBUSD’s equity promises are genuine or merely performative.
State Senator Lena Gonzalez publicly demanded LBUSD investigate Solomon, calling the message “horrendous” and unworthy of an educator. Mayor Rex Richardson and multiple local officials also condemned his actions.
Solomon’s role as TALB secretary (2024–26) is significant. As a union leader, he wields influence over bargaining, departmental staffing, and disciplinary structures—systems that disproportionately affect marginalized teachers and counselors, including Black staff.
Whistleblowers say these power dynamics shape how Black educators are perceived, evaluated, and ultimately pushed out of the district.
Some current and former Black staff have spoken anonymously about Lakewood’s culture out of fear and retaliation. Many report that speaking out against bias can jeopardize their positions or advancement.
The Solomon incident has drawn public attention, but it reflects longstanding concerns over differential discipline for Black staff versus their non-Black colleagues.
LBUSD’s non-discrimination policies formally prohibit unlawful discrimination, harassment, intimidation, and bullying. Yet employees say real accountability is rare, and procedural loopholes are often used to excuse inaction.
When leaders in education, even in private forums, perpetuate negative stereotypes, it sends a message about who is valued and who is dehumanized in schools.
Until LBUSD centers the voices of Black educators and faculty and stops using “technicalities” to justify inaction, structural marginalization will persist. For many, Lakewood schools illustrate how institutional power and racial prejudice intersect—shaping both the careers of Black staff and the experiences of Black students.
Read More: https://voiceofblackla.com/racist-harassment-raises-questions-about-torrance-memorial-board-member/
3 Comments
Morning, my name is Naazir Anyabwile, and this time last year I was a counselor at Lakewood High School. I started with LBUSD in 2022 At Wilson High and was transferred to Lakewood High in 23/24, understand that all my evaluations were good. Myself and another counselor were referred to as the dream by principal Mona Merlo all during the first semester of the 24/25 school year, I have the emails. During the second semester I was called in for an investigation of another colleague by principal Merlo. Understand, I was taken back with the accusations about the other colleague and was clueless regarding the accusations that were brought about by a complaint from the head counselor Candice Calderon-Lem. My colleague was described as hostile, angry, and causing tension in the office, and I had not seen any of this, and I denied seeing any fo these accusations regarding my colleague, and my part of the investigation was concluded. I informed Admin that I was going to take personal necessity time because my daughter in the navy was having a baby. When my daughter had the baby, I went down to San Diego for a week to help her. When I got back there was an email for me saying that I needed to be in principal Merlin’s office for an investigation and I could bring my union rep, puzzled and shocked, I asked principal Merlo what this was about and she sent me a list of things that I needed to correct, mind you first semester I was a member of the dream team and my first semester evaluation was good. So I got my union rep and went to the meeting, needless to say to say I was ripped apart, it was like I had no redeeming qualities as a counselor mind you I’ve been a counselor since 01, and never had a bad evaluation. I was also told that I was creating tension in the office. I bought pizza for the office four times last school year and I was the sunshine committee which means I set up the birthday parties for everyone in the office , with my own money!!!! When my union rep and I left the meeting I was floored. I filed a complaint against Merlo and Calderon- Lem, I think in June. To this day still no findings, maybe Kelly An , the Human Resources director can tell you why it’s taking so long. Understand that my contract had not been renewed yet and I was wondering what was going on, I felt okey doke was bout to happen. So I called humans resources and they informed me that they were still moving staff around and they would give me a call, meanwhile I have and final evaluation coming up. In the office it was definitely retaliation for me not throwing my colleague under the bus, which I had no reason to because I did not know what was going on. Mind you my evaluation comes down to by principle Merlo and of course you know it was not good as my first semester evaluation. My union rep advised me principal Merlo that the evaluation was out of compliance because she did not meet the deadline and the fact that she gave me all effectives on my first semester evaluation she would have to do the same for my final evaluation. Needless to say to say that she did not show up to got over my final evaluation, and to this day my final evaluation has not been completed. Kelly An advised that it did not need to be completed because the school was over. As for my contract being renewed, I was informed by Human Resources that due to staff reduction I would not have a job this coming school year, but they kept Tony Lopez who was hired the day before school started last year, and good for her, but I have mor experience that she does and are evaluations were probably pretty much the same. So I don’t know if it is age discrimination, retaliation, or racial, maybe my name offends them. I for got to mention that I did home visits for everyone in the office, my own gas and set up an all paid trip to Chico State for students. Oh yes Lakewood has some serious problems and you should call my colleagues so they could tell you their stories.
Warm regards
Naazir Anyabwile
Mr. A
It is so disturbing to hear what happened to you. You were my son counselor your 1st year at Lakewood and I have nothing but great things to say about you. I remember you and another counselor had started the A-G requirement group for black students to make sure that they were taking the classes to go to a 4 year college. Last week, I didn’t see you at BTS so I thought you had transferred because you were always around on campus. I would definitely write a statement on your behalf if it would help. You had great ideas and were there for the students. Your departure is a loss for the community of black students at Lakewood.
Lbusd had become extremely racist over the past few years, I attended lbusd schools all 1×2 years and have noticed a change on how disciplinary action is handled with black students versus white & Latino children as my children are currently enrolled in the district. Last year a Hispanic kid called my child a stupid black monkey it took a week for the school to take any action after countless calls and visits resulting in a loss of a single recess for the child the district said there was nothing they could do even though it was racial epithet. Fast forward a year my other child had to have a conference because they wouldn’t play with a Hispanic child
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