At a Whitewater High School volleyball game, a group of visitors — including students — entered the gym in full blackface, wigs, and costumes. Their appearance shocked families and students, and a photo of the incident quickly spread online. What should have been a safe, positive community event became another painful reminder of racism that still surfaces in our schools.

The history of blackface is clear. For generations it has been used to mock and demean Black people, reinforcing stereotypes and fueling racist violence. In 2025, no one should have to walk into a school event and see this. Students deserve better. Families deserve better. Our community deserves better.

Fayette County Schools has policies against harassment and discrimination, but there is no specific policy banning blackface or other racist costumes. That gap allows incidents like this to slip through, with responses that feel too vague and too slow. The NAACP, parents, and community leaders have demanded decisive action. We agree.

We are calling on Superintendent Jonathan Patterson, the Fayette County Board of Education, and Whitewater High School administrators to implement clear policies and training immediately. That means explicitly banning blackface in the student code of conduct, providing cultural awareness training to staff and event workers, and holding individuals accountable for racist behavior. Our schools must send an unmistakable message: racism will not be tolerated here.

No child should sit in the bleachers and see their identity mocked. No parent should worry that a school event will become a stage for hate. This is about protecting students and ensuring every family feels safe and respected when they walk into a Fayette County school.

The outrage over this incident is real, but outrage alone will not create change. Policies, training, and accountability will. Fayette County must act now to prove that schools are safe, inclusive, and welcoming for all.

Sign if you agree Fayette County Schools must ban blackface, enforce anti-racism policies, and protect every student.