Utah high schoolers spark fury after wearing 'blackface' to 'blackout-themed' football event

A pair of Utah high schoolers have sparked fury after painting their black to a 'blackout-themed' football event. 

The students, who have not been named, were celebrated as the most 'spirited' at the event. 

While the school says there were no racial undertones to the event, some parents are blasting it as being in poor taste. 

Among them is Edward Wright, an African American father whose daughter attends the same school. He said online: 'This s*** is ridiculous. And the picture was posted by a teacher who teaches at the school - great message.

'Pine View High School you must do better. If my daughter is old enough to experience racism, your child is old enough to learn about it.'

A pair of Utah high schoolers have sparked fury after wearing what appeared to be 'blackface' to a 'blackout-themed' football event

Edward Wright, whose daughter attends Pine View High School in St George, said the two boys were even celebrated for their 'spirit' at the game

The photograph in question shows two students surrounded by cheerleaders, one with his face completely blacked out and the other with paint across his face except the mouth and chin area. 

Several parents commented on Wright's social media posts to condemn the south-west Utah school - but others defended the students, saying they were only painted up in the school color, which is black, to support the players. 

Read More

Kansas City Chiefs fan is accused of racist blackface by reporter - even though other half of child's face was painted RED to match team's colors

'This is a blackout game…. Like where everyone wears and paints themselves black, the school color, to show support,' one father wrote. 

He added that his daughter was on the cheer team pictured, and she is planning to be 'blacked out at the next blackout game'.  

'I can't wait to hear how we are racist for supporting our kids and our school,' he added. 'Damn bro, where is the love and tolerance exactly?'

But other people disagreed. 'What on earth are they even doing?? What was the point of this?? This is awful!' one horrified local wrote. 

'Time for some basic decency and education. I am so sorry for the disrespect,' another person commented. 

Wright followed up on his original post to urge Pine View to educate the students involved - adding that the 'blackout face' was not an isolated incident. 

'It's more than just kids wearing black face at a football game,' Wright wrote.

'Once again, this has been going on for years so this is not a isolated situation. 

'Be swift and precise with the accountability to make sure it doesn't happen again no one should have to endure something like this in a place they call home.'

An angry father has blasted Pine View High School in St George after the alleged 'racist' image emerged online - though some parents have defended the boys pictured. (Pictured: an aerial view of the school) 

Wright added in an interview with KUTV that his ire was directed at the school, rather than the students in the photograph.  

'You could have tapped these young men on the shoulder, whispered in their ear and let these young men know the significance of this,' Wright said. 

'We all make mistakes, but in this age of social media and always being connected, there's just no way people didn't know. 

'I'm a firm believer that ignorance is not an excuse.'

Wright added that school officials should have addressed the incident straight away.  

'You do it in the moment the issue arises. You don't wait. I feel like this was a missed opportunity to educate,' he said. 

Weber County School District, which oversees Pine View, released a statement apologizing for the incident. 

'We work hard to create a space where all students can feel safe,' the district said. 

'We are disheartened that this took place and we apologize to our students and community for any offense that was felt because of this incident. 

'This should not have happened!

'While our staff go through hours of training to prevent bullying, harassment and create a safe environment for all students, we recognize that we must do more so every student feels safe and valued in our schools.

'We are creating school teams that will work with teachers and staff to help make strategic changes that will improve school level culture and climate.

'We are committed to an ongoing process of improvement. This is something that we have continuously done and we will continue to do to help our students feel safe.'