’20s blackface photo in PTA post

AN ANNOUNCEMENT for a speakeasy-themed PTA fundraiser at a Brooklyn school included a big prohibition of its own — photos of performers in blackface.

The offensive announcement has drawn cries of racism, sparked an investigation and led to a PTA official’s horrified apology.

The Education Department is investigating the announcement by the PTA of Public School 118, the Maurice Sendak Community School, that featured 1920s photographs.

A letter sent to the Education Department by a “concerned community member” last month and provided to the Daily News says the “all-white PTA executive board” of the elementary school sent the announcement “that had horrid pictures of blackface.”

The Facebook announcement of the fund-raiser harking back to the days of Prohibition and “speakeasy” cabarets was deleted on Jan. 21. Its use of the offensive pictures prompted a lengthy apology by the PTA’s co-president, Nadine Baldasare, who took responsibility for the post.

“There are no acceptable excuses for how this happened (it was late, I was tired, I was rushing, etc.) because no excuse can change what I know to be true. My privilege as a white person requires that I be conscientious, engaged and informed when representing our community and promoting events,” Baldasare, 45, wrote.

“I failed to be fully engaged here, and as a result, I added to a hostile media landscape that continues to deepen wounds carved by persistent racism in our society. I am deeply sorry.”

The concerned community member described Baldasare’s note as “a poorly executed apology letter” and called for her to step down.

In an interview with The News at Kos Kaffe in Park Slope, Baldasare acknowledged that her resignation was under consideration and said it shouldn’t be her decision.

“This is my error and I caused