High school in FL encouraged students to 'dress up' as black leaders

[Anonymous]

A predominately white high school in FL encouraged students to come to school wearing an "African themed head wrap or turban" and "dress up as an inspiring black leader. If they didn’t mention the headwear, would this still have been insensitive?

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/cancelled-black-history-event-encouraged-white-students-to-dress-up-as-black-leaders/ar-BBZYALb?li=BBnb7Kz

[Anonymous]

The week-long event, which Kirk said was devised by a group of black students, was scheduled to begin next Monday and featured daily "themes" like:

"Wear your African themed Dashiki shirt"
"Wear an African themed head wrap or turban"
"Dress up as an inspiring black leader from history"
"Wear all black in honor of black history month"
"Wear the colors of your favorite African flag"

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The week-long event, which Kirk said was devised by a group of black students, was scheduled to begin next Monday and featured daily "themes" like:

"Wear your African themed Dashiki shirt"
"Wear an African themed head wrap or turban"
"Dress up as an inspiring black leader from history"
"Wear all black in honor of black history month"
"Wear the colors of your favorite African flag"

And - is this culturally insensitive? All those things? Some of them?

[Anonymous]

So now we're offended when a predominantly white school tries to teach african history/traditions?

[Anonymous]

I think it is insensitive to treat Black History Month like Homecoming with a "spirit" week. There is no education involved. Our ES is doing a living wax museum where kids who want to participate choose a person, research them, write and memorize a first person speech about their lives and then yes, dress up like them for the living museum. Our school is about evenly split between white kids, black kids and latino kids. The message that went home was very explicit that children should not darken their skin in anyway when they dress up like their selected person.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think it is insensitive to treat Black History Month like Homecoming with a "spirit" week. There is no education involved. Our ES is doing a living wax museum where kids who want to participate choose a person, research them, write and memorize a first person speech about their lives and then yes, dress up like them for the living museum. Our school is about evenly split between white kids, black kids and latino kids. The message that went home was very explicit that children should not darken their skin in anyway when they dress up like their selected person.

Black students came up with the themes. I don’t understand how this is insensitive - unless someone actually did darken his skin.

[Anonymous]

As long as nobody shows up in black face, I don't find it insensitive.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As long as nobody shows up in black face, I don't find it insensitive.

Because it isn’t. Some people are just on their daily quest to be outraged about something.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As long as nobody shows up in black face, I don't find it insensitive.

Because it isn’t. Some people are just on their daily quest to be outraged about something.

it is becoming so tiresome

[Anonymous]

I'm white, and would have LOVED to dress up at Sojourner Truth or George Washington Carver as a kid - I wrote reports on both of them and found their lives fascinating.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As long as nobody shows up in black face, I don't find it insensitive.

I am the op and the one who posted the above comment. One of my kids loved learning about Harriet Tubman and dressed up as her for the biography museum.

[Anonymous]

This is a great idea, on the contrary.

3rd graders in MCPS do a “wax museum”, impersonating important historical figures, some of whom are African American. Dress-up is part of the work, as is writing and memorizing a speech. No one shows up in blackface.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think it is insensitive to treat Black History Month like Homecoming with a "spirit" week. There is no education involved. Our ES is doing a living wax museum where kids who want to participate choose a person, research them, write and memorize a first person speech about their lives and then yes, dress up like them for the living museum. Our school is about evenly split between white kids, black kids and latino kids. The message that went home was very explicit that children should not darken their skin in anyway when they dress up like their selected person.

Are we assuming that this is the sum total of all bhm activity at the school?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think it is insensitive to treat Black History Month like Homecoming with a "spirit" week. There is no education involved. Our ES is doing a living wax museum where kids who want to participate choose a person, research them, write and memorize a first person speech about their lives and then yes, dress up like them for the living museum. Our school is about evenly split between white kids, black kids and latino kids. The message that went home was very explicit that children should not darken their skin in anyway when they dress up like their selected person.

Are we assuming that this is the sum total of all bhm activity at the school?

Well, it is Florida.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
This is a great idea, on the contrary.

3rd graders in MCPS do a “wax museum”, impersonating important historical figures, some of whom are African American. Dress-up is part of the work, as is writing and memorizing a speech. No one shows up in blackface.

Yes, I think the dressing as a leader part is fine. I feel a bit uncomfortable with the head wrap, but only because I —even as an AA woman— respect that the fabrics of African ethnic groups aren’t mine to wear. I don’t know all the symbolic colors, designs, and folds but many are restricted to certain people who have earned them.