Some “highly offensive and culturally insensitive” social media posts that reportedly featured white students wearing blackface makeup prompted administrators at southwest suburban Homewood-Flossmoor High School to send a letter to parents on Sunday.
“This type of behavior is contrary to our expectations, is being addressed quickly and appropriately and will not be tolerated,” wrote District 233 Supt. Von Mansfield and Jerry Lee Anderson, the high school principal, in a joint email to parents.
Social media pictures shared online of several students show several male white students in apparent blackface. Sunday’s email to parents doesn’t specify the exact nature of the posts or when they appeared online.
“The administration immediately requested a meeting and met with all of the families and students involved on Sunday afternoon,” the administrators said. “Due to student confidentiality laws, we are unable to discuss individual students and actions taken. However, we can share that the social media postings that were seen and heard were not representative of the high expectations we have for all students that attend our school.”
The email goes on to say: “We will continue to take the appropriate and necessary actions to ensure all of our students are respected, feel protected and safe.”
Richard Hofeld and Paul Braun, the respective mayors of Homewood and Flossmoor, said in a joint statement Monday evening that their offices “will be working collaboratively with our community partners to address this repugnant behavior,” though they offered no specifics.
“As Mayors, we know Homewood and Flossmoor take pride in our diversity and inclusion of all people, and the actions of these individuals do not reflect the values we have worked to establish,” the mayors said.
Contributing: Sam Charles
