A preschool in Newton, Massachusetts, has shut its doors indefinitely after a Blackface activity for Black History Month drew backlash.
IC Kids Montessori came under fire after a class of preschool kids were made to wear Blackface masks by their teacher. The kids were also seen doing planks as part of their activities.
Photos of the children were shared on the school's Facebook page, but some of the parents were not amused. Because of their reactions, the school decided to remove the photos and issue an apology addressed to "all who are offended."
Per MassLive, the school officials said that their intention for doing the Blackface activity was to "celebrate Black History Month." They conceded, however, that they "didn't do enough research," thus carrying out the celebrations in the wrong manner.
Empty Apology, Lack of Research
Black mother Nadirah Pierce, whose two young children go to IC Kids Montessori, told NBC 10 Boston that the school has personally apologized to her, but she felt these were empty expressions after reading the Facebook post. One parent also commented that addressing the statement to "all who are offended" showed no accountability.
Pierce said that she saw the Blackface masks when she picked up her children from the school. She didn't think anything of it until she saw the Blackface activity photos on the Facebook page. She called the school about it but felt they didn't seem concerned about why it would be bothersome for the African American community. She had to explain to the teacher what Blackface was.
According to CNN, the origins of the Blackface are rooted in minstrel shows in the mid-19th century, where White actors painted their faces black, wore tattered clothes, and mimicked African slaves in stereotypical Black caricatures. Making the preschool kids plank was also culturally offensive as this mirrored how the African slaves lived on their slave ships in the 1800s. These activities reinforced White supremacy.
The mother, who has since moved her kids to a different school, also said that this should serve as a lesson for teachers to prepare and do proper research when they have projects involving cultures to "avoid a hurtful gesture to a group of people." The mother pointed out that even if there was no intention to offend, the Blackface activity is a major slap in the face for Black Americans.
The director of IC Kids Montessori said that they reprimanded and fired the teacher who spearheaded the Blackface activity. The director also acknowledged that the wording of the public apology was "not the best statement."
School Plans Staff Diversity Training
The owners of IC Kids Montessori, on the other hand, said that they would have the staff undergo diversity training if they decide to open the school again. The training will also help the school create an inclusive curriculum for kids below five years old.
The school also noted that they have multicultural staff members in their employ, and they cater to African American, Asian, and Latino families. However, they plan to have a more diversified staff with a credible background in childcare and multicultural issues in the future.
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