Community members at the University of Oklahoma are angry over the growing number of blackface incidents on campus.
Last weekend, a freshman posted an Instagram story wearing blackface with caption “another day, another case.” The incident has caused outrage among students and faculty, including new Interim President Joe Harroz.
The picture was reported by Black Emergency Response Team (BERT), a student group and expressed disgust over the racist incidents.
#BetterTogether pic.twitter.com/Ep7AFo16fY
— BERT (@BERT_OU) September 22, 2019
“Despite not having all of the information, we are certain that our community is exhausted by such incidents of hate and ignorance,” BERT officials said. “So, BERT will continue to meet with OU administrators in order to cultivate a more inclusive environment for all students of color at our university.”
Earlier this year, a similar blackface incident on campus forced two female students to leave the university campus after the expulsion of one of the students from her Tri Delta sorority. Both the students had put black paint on their faces and used the words, “I am a n****r.”
Meanwhile, the accused student has said that it was a charcoal facemask and has nothing to do with racism and were taken out of the context.
“That is me, wearing a charcoal face mask, while I was at home with my girlfriend,” the student told OU Daily. “I did not post the picture with any intention of ‘black face’ as (they’re) claiming I am. I feel as if I’m being framed as racist and I am not.”
However, the interim president Harroz in a statement has said that student’s who apply blackface are engaging in racism and termed it as an attack on the core values of the university.
“The impact it has on our community and all who strive for a diverse and inclusive community, is profound – it attacks our core values, it directly degrades African Americans, and it strikes at our very humanity,” Harroz said.
“No one in our community can claim to be ignorant of the horrible history and meaning of blackface and its damaging effects,” he added.
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