Teacher told toddlers to make blackface masks for Black History Month in Massachusetts
A daycare center has shut down due to protests after a teacher had a class full of toddlers make blackface masks “to celebrate” Black History Month in Massachusetts, according to the center.
The children painted paper plates black to create the face masks, Masslive reported.
The teacher, whose name wasn’t mentioned, was fired after a parent said the Feb. 8 classroom activity was “offensive” and news about it spread online, the IC Kids Montessori center said in a Feb. 13 Facebook post apologizing for the incident.
The center in Newton acknowledged that the “wording” of an earlier Facebook apology, which has since been deleted, “was not the best statement.”
“We were trying to send a message to say that research for toddler curriculum was not executed or completed in the manner that it should have been, so we apologize to every and anyone this might have offended.”
Nadirah Pierce, whose children attended the center, told NBC10 Boston that “this is unacceptable and (I) don’t really understand the concept of this project.”
“The apology received was empty and then to go onto Facebook and see that apology was disheartening,” Pierce told the outlet of the now-deleted apology. “I hope this is a lesson to possibly really prepare to do projects on cultures before doing them to avoid a hurtful gesture to a group of people.
“Even if they weren’t trying to offend, they have.”
The history of blackface is rooted in how white performers in minstrel shows, “intended as comic entertainment,” would mockingly paint their faces black and would often perform as slave caricatures, according to Britannica. This was particularly popular in the United States and the U.K. from the 1850s up to the 1870s.
“Considering ... protests happening at the center that will put the children at risk, ... we are closing the ICKids daycare at this time,” the center said in its latest Facebook post. “Families will be provided with a list of child care centers in the area so that they can immediately receive care for their child/children.”
“In the event that we reopen our doors all staff will be trained in Diversity and creating curriculum for the birth to 5 year old age group,” it added.
February has been “officially” recognized in the U.S. as Black History Month since 1976, according to History.com.
It’s also celebrated in Canada and other countries.
This story was originally published February 15, 2022 at 6:30 PM with the headline "Teacher told toddlers to make blackface masks for Black History Month in Massachusetts."
.jpg)