DYER, TN (abc24.com) - High fashion or bad taste: A West Tennessee High School senior says she doesn't understand all the uproar over her confederate flag-inspired dress.
"We have always worn flags to school, we have never been told we couldn't, and all of a sudden it become a big deal," said Texanna Edwards, a senior at Gibson County High School.
Edwards says Gibson County School administrators told her the dress was "offensive and inappropriate" and barred her from entering her senior prom on Saturday night.
"They wouldn't let me in the door whatsoever," she said, "I didn't think it was going to be as big of a drama it was."
Edwards says school administrators told her she could go home and change and come back. But Edwards, who admits to being "real country," said she spent $500 on the dress and getting ready, and wasn't about to start changing.
So, she snapped a few pictures with friends outside the school and went home with her date.
"She looked so good, she doesn't dress up that much. She looked so good that night," said Sara Owens, Texanna's grandmother. "It is just a shame that someone has to make a racist issue out of a piece of material or a dress."
Edwards says she never intended to offend anyone, and says she is not a racist.
"I don't think it is racist at all, I mean, I got too many friends that are black or mixed and I have asked them all, 'Do you think I'm racist?' and they say if you are racist why are you friends with us?" Edwards said.
School administrators did not return calls or emails from abc24.com, but the superintendent told a local paper he stood by the school's decision, telling the paper it was all an "unfortunate incident."
"I was just being me, and wearing rebel flags and being country is just who I am," Edwards said.
