TENNESSEE —A Springfield High School teacher claims she is a victim of a hate crime after the letters KKK were spray painted on her mailbox.

Gerlonda Hardin, who teaches business at Springfield High School, bought the house in the mostly white neighborhood a year ago. She said she has never experienced racial hatred before.

Now she feels frightened and hurt.

“There are still some cruel people, cruel things in the world. Living in the 21st century, it’s funny that things like that still float around,” said Hardin.