An elementary school in Atlanta, Georgia, issued an apology for a black history program that featured a group of second grade students holding masks that depict blackface.
The Kindezi School at Old Fourth Ward said it will provide cultural competency training for the teacher following the March 29 incident.
The performance featured children reciting Paul Laurence Dunbar’s poem “We Wear the Mask” while holding paper masks in front of their faces. Footage of the event shared to social media had earned over 500,000 views at the time of writing.
In a statement posted on Facebook, the school said it is “deeply committed” to making sure “this never happens again.”
It said it will provide teacher education on “cultural competency” to ensure “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.”
The school also plans to hold conversations with students to provide historical context behind the imagery and poem used. Credit: Semone Banks
