A charter school in Atlanta, Georgia is under fire for having its second grade students hold traditional blackface masks up to their faces in a school performance. The program was part of a cultural competency training for teachers, and the masks were used to depict a poem titled “We Wear The Mask” which the kids were reciting.
The video below went viral and sparked immediate outrage from parents and community members.
The school issued an apology on Facebook saying, “This was a poor and inappropriate decision, and we sincerely apologize and accept responsibility for the hurt, anger, frustration, and disappointment that this has caused in the Kindezi community and the community at large.”
They also reassured the community that “staff has a thorough understanding of our shared history regarding race and racism in America, and how to engage in productive conversations with our students and the community.”
