Black students in Santa Barbara walked out of class and spoke at an October 13 Santa Barbara Unified School District board meeting, expressing strong criticism of the district's response to a blackface incident at San Marcos High School.
The incident, which occurred in September, involved four white female students who smeared dark makeup on their faces, arms, and legs. They then photographed themselves in a Black Studies teacher's classroom while the teacher was absent. The students reportedly mimicked the poses of Black children from a popular AI meme and posted their image to TikTok, using ninja emojis that were reportedly intended to stand in for a racial slur.
The TikTok post circulated online for two weeks before the Santa Barbara Unified School District notified parents. Students who were aware of the incident described the punishment given to the offenders as a “slap on the wrist.” San Marcos Principal Dare Holdren stated that the school had contacted the families of the students involved to “educate the students about the impact of their actions” but did not confirm whether any further consequences would be implemented.
At the October 13 board meeting, students and community members gathered to criticize what they called the school’s “lackadaisical response” to the blackface incident. Many speakers also highlighted a broader “pattern of racism” within the district that they said “goes back years.” Advocates present at the meeting held signs, including those that read “Stop Ignoring Racism” and “We Want Justice.”
These advocates demanded the expulsion of the students responsible for the blackface incident and called for significant structural changes within the district. Their proposals included implementing a zero-tolerance policy against racism, expanding ethnic studies and racial justice curriculum, and increasing the number of Black teachers and staff members.
Superintendent Hilda Maldonado addressed the crowd, condemning the blackface incident as “racist and harmful” and pledging to listen to their concerns. Several board members acknowledged that the district has “fallen short in addressing racism.” Board President Bill Banning indicated that he would ask the superintendent to place the issue on an upcoming board agenda, stating that while it may “sound hollow at this point,” he intended to ensure it received more attention.
For many Black students, the district's handling of the incident had already led to a loss of trust. A community member identified as Faith Kinsbury stated that the district's inaction in the face of ongoing anti-Black hate crimes clearly showed its priorities. Joel Block, a local teacher, suggested that district leadership tends to conceal difficult situations until public pressure forces the board to address them. A student identified as Sedenia expressed profound disappointment, stating that the district had handled the situation “horribly,” making Black students feel unsafe and unable to trust the institution.
