Teens expelled after ‘blackface’ mix-up get $1m
TWO teens in California expelled from an elite Catholic high school when their acne face masks were mistaken for ‘blackface’ have been awarded $1million (£800,000).
The boys named only as AH and HH were kicked out of St Francis High School in Mountain View after a 2017 selfie of them wearing the masks with a friend was put on a group chat in June 2020.
The school had been caught up in a scandal when recent graduates posted a mocking meme about George Floyd, whose murder in May that year sparked the Black Lives Matter movement.
The student who put the photo on the chat insinuated the teens were wearing ‘blackface’ and suggested it was ‘another example’ of racism.
When summoned by teachers, the boy’s parents explained that the photos showed their sons in green facemasks that turned dark green when dry.
They said they put them on during a sleepover aged 14 to show solidarity with a pal who had bad acne and did not even know what ‘blackface’ meant.
But hours later, HH’s dad was called by principal Katie Teekell, who said his son was ‘not welcomed back’ to the school.
She said the decision was not based on ‘intent’ but ‘optics’ and ‘the harm done to the St Francis community’. The families sued and a Santa Clara County Superior Court jury has now found in their favour.
In addition to the payout of $500,000 each, the boys’ $70,000 tuition fees must be repaid. The school is exploring legal options including an appeal.
The case has had a ‘groundbreaking effect’ on California private schools, which must now ensure fair procedure before expulsions, said Krista Baughman, one of the attorneys for the students.