Four high school girls in California are facing backlash for sharing a meme that shows them in blackface within an African-American studies classroom.
The unidentified students, from San Marcos High School in Santa Barbara, altered their skin tone to appear darker in the photo.
The image replicates an AI-created illustration of four young Black boys in different poses, which has gone viral on TikTok.
The caption read, “meet the gc🥷🥷🥷🥷🥷🥷🥷…” with the ninja emoji often associated with the n-word.
San Marcos High’s Principal, Dare Holdren, acknowledged that the students “portrayed blackface” in the post and informed parents that the school has taken disciplinary action against them.
Holdren also mentioned that the racial stereotype was reported to the administration through their Safe to Speak Up system a couple of weeks prior, and they acted swiftly in response.
He added that as the image kept circulating within the student body, it prompted a need to address it with the school community.
The school has reached out to the families of the students involved and is striving to educate them on the repercussions of such actions. “Racial stereotypes are harmful and have no place in our schools,” Holdren remarked, emphasizing the need for students to grasp the effects their words and actions can have on others.
Although the students’ identities remain undisclosed, it is unclear what specific consequences they are facing.
The incident drew condemnation from the Santa Barbara Unified School District Superintendent Hilda Maldonado, who expressed that blackface perpetuates a history of dehumanization and humiliation against Black individuals.
She stated, “What occurred was harmful,” noting that for Black students and staff, this incident could trigger painful reflections about being judged on their skin color instead of their character.
Maldonado stressed that no student or faculty member should endure such feelings at school. Previous incidents of racism in the district have also raised concerns.
For instance, a substitute teacher at San Marcos High last year read the n-word aloud while teaching *Of Mice and Men*, despite instructions not to do so, leading to their removal.
At a meeting on June 9, community members voiced concerns that racial issues still prevail on campus.
A student shared, “Black students do not feel safe here, and I have personally lost friends who moved away because of it.”
Maldonado noted the district’s commitment to fostering an inclusive environment, acknowledging the challenge of effecting change. “I cannot promise that one statement, one lesson, or one initiative will change our culture overnight,” she said. “But I can promise that we will keep listening, learning, examining ourselves, and doing this work.”
