Many of you have probably seen this photo today. It’s of the entire 2019 class of Baraboo High School in Wisconsin, which has a population of around 10,000. And it’s exactly what you think it is. They even brag that they got the one Black kid from the class to throw the Sieg Heil, as though this were a prized accomplishment.

is that what it means to be #barabooproud ? the ignorance in this photo is astonishing, and i cannot believe that the baraboo community stood by and watched while this happened. do better. pic.twitter.com/zGvxaMoSg0

— alisyn (@alisynamant) November 12, 2018

The photo was taken last Spring, and Vice writer Jules Suzdaltsev has spent much of the day on Twitter documenting the story behind that photo. He’s gotten a lot of DMs from people who attend or who have attended Baraboo High suggesting that the actions in the picture are not out of character for that school. There are a lot of messages like these:

pic.twitter.com/qS1VeKtdIM

— Jules Suzdaltsev (@jules_su) November 12, 2018

The principal of the school has also weighed in, but based on all the other messages that Suzdaltsev has received, the photo is precisely reflective of the school’s values (I saw one former classmate blaming a teacher for teaching the kids the Sieg Heil sign; the teacher’s Twitter account has since gone private).

The photo of students posted to #BarabooProud is not reflective of the educational values and beliefs of the School District of Baraboo. The District will pursue any and all available and appropriate actions, including legal, to address.

— Lori M. Mueller (@LoriMMueller) November 12, 2018

Of course, not every kid is participating. Look at the kid down in front! He doesn’t have his arm raised … oh wait.

This kid dead-center is literally doing the "white power okay sign". pic.twitter.com/qyHnf1GzRt

— Jules Suzdaltsev (@jules_su) November 12, 2018

But seriously, look up in the top right corner. THAT guy is every kid in a small, racist conservative town who managed to maintain his decency in the face of so much hate and racism. I love that guy, and let me just say, Jordan Blue: A lot of us have been exactly where you are right now.

I spoke with the only student who is visibly not comfortable with the “salute”, he provided this statement. pic.twitter.com/HbNBc8xLOK

— Jules Suzdaltsev (@jules_su) November 12, 2018

And listen, Jordan Blue: It gets better. It really does. You’re going to be the guy who gets the f*ck out of Baraboo while the rest of them end up spending their lifetimes working at Wal Mart and used car lots while wallowing in their misery, blaming black people, women, gays, and lesbians for how terrible their lives have ended up. In a few years, you’ll see those assholes when you go back home to see your parents, and they will say “Why weren’t we friends back in high school?” while they’re drunk on Miller Light, or they’ll try and friend you on Facebook so that they can ask you for a job, and then they’ll get pissed when you won’t.

“Fuck you, I thought we were friends?!”

“No, bro. We were never friends.”

And listen, Jordan: In ten or 15 years, you won’t even remember their names. The bullies and assholes will mean nothing to you anymore. Less than nothing. In 12 years, you’ll be living your best life, and those guys will be 30 but look 50, choking on their Pall Malls and desperate for another guy like Trump to come along to validate them because no one else ever will.

You’re going to be alright, Jordan Blue. It’s hard right now, but much of the rest of America has your back. You just gotta keep your head down and survive the next six months, and after that, you’ll never have to think of Baraboo or those knobheads again.

Source: Jules Suzdaltsev
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Dustin is the founder and co-owner of Pajiba. You may email him here, follow him on Twitter, or listen to his weekly TV podcast, Podjiba.