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Two activists have been ridiculed after they accused a DJ of wearing blackface before finding out he was actually black.
Stuart Rhoden and Jill Lassen have faced backlash after they labelled a school district racist in Arizona, USA, for hiring the DJ at a charity event.
Kim Koko Hunter, 56, was left astounded by the claims after the diversity advocates slammed the Scottsdale Unified School District’s Hopi Elementary PTA for allowing him to parade the offensive make-up at the event.
It comes after the pair jumped to conclusions when they spotted a photo of Hunter on Facebook before learning of his race, reports the Arizona Daily Independent.
Hopi PTA president Megan Livengood was left disgusted by the claims and said: “The DJ that the Hopi PTA hire[d] was, in fact a Black man.
“It is insulting that you feel myself or PTA condone racist behaviour or encourage it by posting on social media.”
Lassen was remorseful about the moronic allegation and responded: “You are right, we should’ve reached out and inquired before making such accusations.
"I cannot fathom the hurt, anger and frustration you felt after you and others volunteered countless hours on your event. Again I truly apologise.”
But despite his pal issuing an apology, Rhoden, who is an instructor at Arizona State University, continued to double down on the claims.
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He posted a comparison image on Facebook in a bid to prove that the DJ had darkened his face regardless of his race, reports New York Post.
“Let me be clear, a black man, apparently in black face is an entirely different discussion than a White person,” he said in a post.
“However… it seems at the very least he is in darker make-up if not ‘Black face’ or I am completely mistaken and it’s the lighting of the patio.”
It has been reported that Rhoden is a part of the district’s Equity and Inclusion Committee, while Lassen is a co-chair of the Scottsdale Parent Council diversity, equity and inclusion committee.
Hunter took to Facebook Live in disbelief and said an organiser contacted someone he works for to double-check his race after the event.
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The DJ said: “They thought that the DJ there or the person there was in a blackface, and the person that they thought was in black face was me."
Turning to his friend on the live stream, he added in their defence: “How many chips in the ice cream did you see?”
He laughed and added: “They were probably thinking the same thing I am: wow there are no black people here.
“Was I not black enough? How black do I got to be for people to know that I’m an actual Black person."
Rhoden and the Scottsdale school district did not return requests for comment.
Lassen could not be immediately reached.
- In the News
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