NC college distances itself from board member’s post on race calling for ‘purge’
Stanly Community College is distancing itself from comments made by a board member in a Facebook post saying white people are “losing” in the United States.
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Board member Kelly Lowder posted the comments on his Facebook page last week and received thousands of comments and reactions. He complained of “double standards” for white and Black people when it comes to saying racial slurs and warned of “really, really, really bad” outcomes if white people “lose” in the U.S., comparing it to several Black-majority countries.
He also called for a worldwide “purge.” In a follow-up comment, he clarified “a lot of dumb people” mistook what he meant.
“I’m not talking about murder like in the movie,” Lowder wrote in a comment. “I’m talking about starvation as a natural consequence of not having enough productive individuals to feed all the rest.”
Lowder posted the comments alongside a picture of Shiloh Hendrix, a white Minnesota woman who was found guilty of disorderly conduct this week for hurling a racial slur at an 8-year-old on a playground, and DeCarlos Brown, a Black man facing state and federal charges for the 2025 killing of Iryna Zarutska in Charlotte.
The post was no longer visible on Lowder’s account Monday evening. He did not respond to The Charlotte Observer’s request for an interview.
“Personal social media posts by individual trustees do not represent the official views, positions or policies of Stanly Community College or its Board of Trustees,” Jennifer Aries, a spokesperson for Stanly Community College, told the Observer in an email. “Stanly Community College is deeply committed to providing an environment where individuals from all backgrounds and experiences are welcomed, valued, treated with dignity and respect, and given every opportunity to succeed.”
Aries said the 12-member board of trustees operates independently of the college’s administration, and she could not say whether the board would decide to take action in response to Lowder’s post.
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“Every day, our faculty and staff work alongside students from a wide range of backgrounds, experiences, and circumstances to help them achieve their educational and career goals,” said Dr. John Enamait, president of Stanly Community College. “Our commitment to treating every person with dignity and respect, fostering opportunity and supporting student success is demonstrated through our actions every day.”
Board Chair Lisa Burris declined to comment further, referring the Observer to the comments from Aries and Enamait.
Dexter Townsend sits on the Albemarle City Council and is a member of Stanly County’s NAACP. He’s also an alumnus of Stanly Community College.
Townsend told the Observer he felt the post was “inappropriate” from a board member meant to represent the institution and uphold its mission of serving all students.
“Being a graduate from there, I know that Stanly Community College has worked hard over the years on trying to maintain an inclusive environment,” he said. “So, it’s somewhat disturbing to me… The last thing we need is a distraction.”
Townsend said he hopes the board addresses the situation quickly and “in the correct manner.” Specifically, he believes it should call for Lowder’s resignation.
“The community college doesn’t need any shadows over their head as they progress as an institution,” he said. “As individuals, we all make mistakes, but we have to be held accountable.”
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This story was originally published July 28, 2026 at 3:19 PM.
