Arizona diversity leaders slammed for falsely accusing Black DJ of wearing blackface

Two Arizona variety in schooling advocates falsely accused a Black man who was employed as a DJ at a faculty fundraiser of sporting blackface. 

“They thought that the DJ there or the particular person there was in a black face, and the person who they thought was in black face was me,” DJ Kim Koko Hunter stated in a Fb Reside video April 12.

The PTA at Hopi Elementary of the Scottsdale Unified College District employed Hunter to carry out at a fundraiser to learn the college on April 9, the Each day Mail reported. The occasion, “Hopi Evening Fever,” pulled in $300,000 for “important packages and companies.”

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However two variety advocates who’ve volunteered for committees linked to the Scottsdale Unified College District, Stuart Rhoden and Jill Lassen, accused Hunter of sporting blackface after seeing a photograph of him on the Disco-themed occasion, in accordance with the Arizona Each day Impartial. 

Lassen, a self-described ​​”ardent group volunteer, activist, and ally to the LGBTQ+ group” who co-chairs the Scottsdale Guardian Council’s variety, fairness and inclusion committee, despatched an e mail to the PTA accusing them of selling racism, in accordance with the Arizona Each day Impartial. 

Megan Livengood, head of the Hopi PTA, responded to the message that Hunter is in actual fact a Black man. 

“The DJ that the Hopi PTA rent[d] was, in actual fact a Black man,” Livengood wrote in accordance with correspondence obtained by the Arizona Each day Impartial. “It’s insulting that you simply really feel myself or PTA condone racist habits or encourage it by posting on social media.”

Lassen apologized following the PTA chief’s e mail. 

“You’re proper, we should always’ve reached out and inquired earlier than making such accusations. I can not fathom the damage, anger and frustration you felt after you and others volunteered numerous hours in your occasion. Once more I actually apologize,” she wrote, in accordance with the correspondence. 

Hopi Elementary College in Arizona (Google Maps)

Hunter defined in his Fb Reside that an organizer of the occasion known as an individual he works with to inquire whether or not he’s Black. 

Rhoden, an teacher at Arizona State College who has labored with the Scottsdale college district’s fairness and inclusion committee, additionally issued an apology to Hunter after he questioned the PTA’s acceptance of blackface, the Each day Mail reported. In a Fb publish reviewed by Fox Information Digital, Rhoden apologized but in addition confirmed side-by-side pictures of Hunter and argued that it seems he darkened his face. 

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“Let me be clear, a Black man, apparently in Black face is a completely completely different dialogue than a White particular person. Nevertheless I didn’t state that the particular person was White. It was assumed that was my intent, and maybe it was, however nonetheless, trying on his FB web page (pictures under), it appears on the very least he’s in darker make-up if not ‘Black face’ or I’m utterly mistaken and it is the lighting of the patio,” he wrote on Fb April 12. 

“I apologize to dude for the implication, however the sentiment nonetheless stands, Black face by anybody, at the present time is problematic. I additionally apologize to people who reposted and made different statements primarily based on my assumption,” he continued. 

The Scottsdale Unified College District informed Fox Information Digital that neither Lassen nor Rhoden are “staff of the Scottsdale Unified College District.”

“They don’t converse for the district nor characterize it. As dad and mom, they’ve beforehand volunteered to take part in district committees,” the assertion to Fox Information Digital on Monday stated. “Likewise, the Scottsdale Guardian Council is a company that’s separate and unbiased from the district and doesn’t converse for the district.” 

Hunter additionally addressed the accusation that he was a Black man doing blackface throughout his Fb Reside. 

“Was I not Black sufficient? How black do I received to be for folks to know that I’m an precise Black particular person,” he stated.

Arizona DJ Kim Koko Hunter (Credit score: Instagram/@kimkokohunter)
(Credit score: Instagram/@kimkokohunter)

A petition is now circulating to take away Lassen and Rhoden from the Scottsdale Guardian Council and put off the fairness, variety and inclusion committee. 

“The division being prompted Is sort of disturbing, in a time when unity is crucial and desperately wanted. Something apart from removing of those members will probably be seen as tacit complacency by anybody who’s paying consideration,” the petition states. 

“The SPC is so intent on discovering racism they may go as far as to accuse a member of one of many communities they declare to advocate for of reprehensible habits. SPC invoices each Scottsdale Unified College District PTO/PTA/APT for dues every year after which makes use of these funds to assault group members,” stated Scottsdale Unified College District dad and mom and public college activist, Amanda Wray, in accordance with the Arizona Each day Impartial. 

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Lassen and Rhoden didn’t instantly reply to Fox Information Digital’s requests for remark.