By Alexander Phan
Blackface was used in a costume by an MHS staff member on Halloween day, Superintendent Cheryl Jordan said. The staff member has since been put on paid administrative leave, she said.The actions of the staff member have caused great consequences for life on campus, Jordan said. It has affected members of the district and the district as a whole,she added.“It’s greatly disrupted how the district is functioning at the moment and even more importantly, it’s deeply affected many students, parents, and staff members,” Jordan said. “I share the disappointment, and while I can-not experience or understand it from their perspective, I value and respect that.”The staff member in question had been planning to dress in blackface prior to Halloween,Sophomore Hector Mendez said.Students of the class (such as Mendez) had warned the staff member about using blackface.“We had warned him before,”Mendez said. “We told him honestly that it was a bad idea.”The decision to use black-face has affected students of the school, especially the AfricanAmerican community, Black Student Union (BSU) President Nyla Choates said.“On behalf of the Black Student Union, I think that we’ve all been affected in a way where we’re re-considering who to trust and who at our school really cares about us,” Choates said. “For a teacher to think that it was okay and to justify a way to dress up as our skin as their costume was just astonishing.”The use of blackface as a costume has brought many difficulties on campus, Junior Sienna Reyes said.“I feel like, as an African-American student on campus, it’s definitely been hard to adjust and feel comfortable on campus after knowing that someone who should be considered a role model was able to do the things he did,”Reyes said.The blackface incident occur-ring on campus has cast some doubt over MHS’ reputation for being a safe environment, Mendez said.“It kind of messed up the school’s reputation,” Mendez said, “This school is known for having a good, safe environment where [people] can be good to each other and happy.”Sophomore Kristoffer Magat, who was in the class, said that the staff member in question did not have malicious intent with the costume. The costume was just abad decision, Magat said.“He wasn’t really trying to aim for what blackface was,” Magat said. “He was just trying to look like Common the rapper. He didn’t have any intent of support-ing that term; it was just a bad choice of costume.”No matter what the staff member’s intention was, the conscious choice to dress in blackface is un-justifiable, Choates said.“I’ve tried to think about his perspective, but I can’t think about any type of thing that would justify this,” Choates said.“I’ve heard that he used to be a history teacher, which is also astonishing in itself for you not to think while you’re painting your face in your bathroom, that this was not okay.”Despite blackface being used as part of a Halloween costume, the staff members actions are still in-excusable, Reyes said.“I understand why some people would say that it’s just a Halloween costume,” Reyes said. “If you don’t understand the history of blackface, you can’t say that. I don’t think it’s justifiable in that matter.”Sophomore Jake Shimada, a student in the class, said the staff member’s intention should be considered before judgment.“What he did, he was just trying to be the Microsoft AI guy, which is what he really tried to pull off.I think a lot of people just point to the blackface, but they don’t see what he was actually trying to do,” Shimada said. “You can tell that it wasn’t about the Microsoft AI guy, it wasn’t about his costume or what he portrayed.It was about the fact that he did blackface, but what people don’t realize is that it wasn’t in racist intent. He just did it to entertain.”The incident should be seen as an opportunity for the community to gain a better sense of understanding of each other, Jordan said.“This is an opportunity for us to strengthen how we are with each other and to deepen our cultural understanding,” Jordan said. “So as we look at what we teach in class, we are cognizant and diligent in making sure that we have content that represents the cultural backgrounds and experiences of all of our learners,so they see themselves in what they’re learning. In that way, they know that they are important and valued.”Moving forward from this incident, it would be best if people would have respect for others’ cultures, Choates said.“I would love for everyone to know is that our skin is not your costume and this is not just for the black community. It is for Mexicans, any type of Asians, or any-one.” Choates said. “I just think if we all agree with each other on that, if we all respect each other’s cultures and respect each other’s skin colors, then we’ll all be a good and happy world.”The district has already begun action to help mend the situation, Jordan said. The district has met with numerous groups and allowed many opportunities for students to vent their frustrations, Jordan said.“On Monday, we had opportunities for the BSU leaders and other students to talk at length about their thoughts, their wisdom, and their emotions,” Jordan said. “We also had opportunities for students and staff to come at lunch on Monday to talk today after school. We’ll have an opportunity for all staff to meet together and to hear from student leaders about how it’s impacted them.We’ve met with the National Association for the Advancement ofColored People (NAACP). We’ll be meeting with some parents from MHS and the community.”The Union is not releasing the name of the staff member because the district has not confirmed his name.