2nd Grader Gets in Trouble for "Black Face" Costume Tribute to MLKing (race, news)
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Controversy erupted at a Colorado elementary school after a student arrived in blackface as part of a Martin Luther King Jr. costume for a class project.
Second-grader Sean King was asked to remove the makeup by officials at Meridian Ranch Elementary chool in Colorado Springs Wednesday, reported KRDO-TV.
"Each student in the class had been assigned a historical figure to dress up as for “wax museum day” at the school, the station reported."
"Sean's mother, Michelle King-Roca, told Denver’s 7News her son was really excited about the project."
"He said, 'Mom, I want to wear a black suit because that's what he wore, a black tie, a white shirt, and also I want to do my face black and wear a mustache,'" said King-Roca."
"After complaints from a faculty member that took issue with the blackface, the principal asked Sean to remove the face paint orleave the school."
Now, this baffles me. This child was asked to dress up as Martin Luther King, a black person, so when he carefully puts together a detailed costume including facial make up and mustache, he gets in trouble and told to wash it off or go home? What is going on? When my child was in kindergarten, they were given special light to dark "skin tone" crayons and were required to color the skin of all people, which I thought was interesting. Now, when these kids are asked to dress up as a person of a different race, they are supposed to ignore the skintone? Poor kids today. We are passing on our own neurosis. I hope the parents don't send this little boy who was shamed for putting forth his best effort with absolutely no malice, back to the public schools. Too crazy.
What do others think? Anybody agree with the school's decision?
That's right!
And let this be a lesson to you Sean King.
What you did was an expression of common sense.
Any other rational person would have also worn the same type of clothes and attempted to replicate shin tone and hair to resemble that of Dr. King per the assignment, but you attend public school where rational thought and common sense are obvious signs of racial intolerance.
Hmmm, I thought that my previous comment was written in English.
Again, its 2nd grade and not a Broadway production. That child's parents should have known better.
And you still haven't answered the question. Are you trying to say the child's parents "should have known better" than to portray MLK as a black man? Should MLK have been portrayed as a white man?
And you still haven't answered the question. Are you trying to say the child's parents "should have known better" than to portray MLK as a black man? Should MLK have been portrayed as a white man?
Hmm... Black girls dress up like Marilyn Monroe......without 'whiteface'.
I want to know if the kid picked MLK and why is the school assigning a big project when school is almost out?
He was supposed to "dress up" as MLK. Being "black" is a defining feature to recognize the man by. If his skin was white, he wore a black suit and had just that mustache, he may have been mistaken for Hitler!
I understand that someone painting their face black, tap dancing, eating watermelon and speakin' jive would be offensive - a caricature of "a" black person. But, this was an attempt at an accurate, respectful portrayal of an historical figure who was...black. If ithis s truly offensive, I don't get it, but the school needs to stop these assignments. Its not fair to the kids who get a person of a different race to try and realistically portray them without being able to display their skin color.
No. He was supposed to portray MLK, and you don't need to match every detail in order to portray. Whatever extent he wants to go through to sell that portrayal is a judgment call that should weigh the benefit against any potential harm. Allowing your 2nd grader to dress in blackface, regardless if he's aware of its sensitive nature, is poor judgment from his parents.
Case in point. I was Abraham Lincoln for a class project in 3rd grade. I made a crappy stove pipe hat out of construction paper and wore a black tie. That's it. I didn't need to powder up my face or glue a fake beard on.
Why are people playing ignorant about the offensive nature of blackface? Why are non-Blacks the authority on what Blacks find offensive? Is it not enough that we tell you we are?
This is Al Jolson. Was he a racist or a supporter of equal rights?
There is no reason to be offended by an impersonation, unless you are ashamed of being black, and that would be ridiculous.
Another ignorant comment.
The use of blackface was also paired with stereotypical and derogatory mocking portrayals of Black Americans from the pre and post Civil War era. It was NOT a form of flattery or admiration by any stretch of the imagination. Obviously, you purposely skipped over the real explanations of the offensiveness of blackface in your search for a YouTube clip.
It has nothing to do with not being proud of our heritage. Blackface is not "our" heritage.
I'm sure the kid meant well but you can tell his parents are racist
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What is going on? When my child was in kindergarten, they were given special light to dark "skin tone" crayons and were required to color the skin of all people, which I thought was interesting. Now, when these kids are asked to dress up as a person of a different race, they are supposed to ignore the skintone? Poor kids today. We are passing on our own neurosis. I hope the parents don't send this little boy who was shamed for putting forth his best effort with absolutely no malice, back to the public schools. Too crazy. 
