High school band students accused of racist fruit basket

HOUSTON -- Band members at a Houston high school may be suspended over a fruit basket they handed over to a rival school that was seen as racially offensive.

Seven band members from Atascocita High School presented their gift to their counterparts in the Summer Creek High School band on the field before a varsity game last Friday.

The fruit basket is meant to encourage good sportsmanship.

Along with candy and a decorated bucket for Halloween was a small watermelon, coconut, pineapple and watermelon gum.

Sister station KTRK spoke to two of the Atascocita band members and their parents on Monday. The students said they never dreamed it would be considered racist.

"We didn't do anything wrong," said flutist Carolina Andaverde. "We wouldn't do that because we know better than that. Our parents raised us better."

"I'm mixed (race). I don't take offense to that. How can someone else take offense?" asked senior Alyssa Taylor.

The students have been told their punishment might include being suspended and kicked out of band.

"We weren't being racist towards them (Summer Creek). If they took it that way, we're sorry. We didn't mean any harm," Andaverde said.

"It's just not fair, not fair. They're good kids with good heads on their shoulders," said Hector Andaverde, Carolina's father.

Humble Independent School District released the following statement:

It is a tradition for student representatives of competing schools to exchange gifts on the field at varsity football games. On Friday, students from one school presented students from the other school with a watermelon, a pineapple, a coconut, and watermelon gum. Today, school administrators conducted an investigation and after considering the totality of the circumstances, determined that the gift was inappropriate and lacked good sportsmanship. Atascocita High School will not tolerate racial insensitivity.

The district wouldn't disclose punishment citing privacy laws.