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Mother Sues Schools Over Reading About Slavery

The mother of a black student has sued a school district in Macomb County claiming that her daughter was racially harassed by a fifth-grade teacher's reading aloud from a book about slavery.

The Macomb Daily reports the suit claims Jala Petree's teacher at Margaret Black Elementary School in Sterling Heights read excerpts from ``From Slave Ship to Freedom Road'' that contain racial epithets and racist characterizations.

The suit against Warren Consolidated Schools was filed Tuesday in Macomb County Circuit Court in Mount Clemens by Jala's mother, Jamey Petree. It seeks more than $50,000 in damages.

The Associated Press left a phone message seeking comment from the school district.

(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.

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