NC mom shocked after daughter brings home 'Redneck Christmas' book from school library

A Rowan County parent was disappointed that her daughter was able to check out a book called 'Redneck Night Before Christmas' that contained imagery of Confederate flags from her school's library.

Posted 5:27 p.m. Dec 4, 2021 — Updated 5:30 p.m. Dec 4, 2021

ROWAN COUNTY, N.C. — A Rowan County parent was disappointed that her daughter was able to check out a book called 'Redneck Night Before Christmas' from her school's library.

Latoya Martin's eight-year-old daughter came home from the school library at Mt. Ulla Elementary School after having gotten what she thought was a fun Christmas book to read with her family.

Until she flipped to the first page that showed a Santa figure carrying a big bag with a Confederate flag across it. The book also contained illustrations of guns and several other depictions of the Confederate flag.

Martin said her daughter's discovery of the book forced her to have a conversation. Until now, her daughter had no idea about the meaning behind the Confederate flag.

"She is the only African American in her class," Martin said.

Martin said there were Post-It notes covering the confederate flags in five of the illustrations, telling her someone knew it would be offensive and left the book on the shelves anyway.

The school's principal told Martin she was shocked it was in the library, too. The school told WSOC that the book was donated at the beginning of the year from a school that had recently closed.

"It makes me emotional because as a parent I want to protect my child and I want my child to be a kid," Martin said. "I don't want them to have to worry about all of the hatred in the world."

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