MIAMI — Parents of children attending a South Florida preschool are angry after a teacher painted students in blackface to teach a lesson about Black History Month.
According to the Miami Herald and WPLG-TV, parents whose children attend the Studio Kids Little River preschool in Miami were upset after photos appeared on the school’s messaging app. The photos were captioned “Black History Month” and showed three toddlers in blackface, the Herald reported.
According to the newspaper, two parents sent the Herald photographs of the children that were shared on the app on Feb. 3. One child appeared to be dressed as a construction worker and another was wearing a police uniform. It was unclear what costume the third child was wearing, the newspaper reported.
Courtney Politis, whose daughter attended the class, said she was shocked when a friend contacted her.
“One of my closest friends contacts me, whose son is in the class, and is, like, ‘You won’t believe what they just did today?’” Politis told WPLG.
Politis, who is Black, has already withdrawn her child from the preschool. She said she immediately texted the director of the preschool, Patricia Vitale, and told her the photographs were racist, the television station reported.
She said Vitale texted her back, writing, “I’m sorry? I don’t understand,” Politis told WPLG.
Politis told the television station that Vitale also texted, “What is racist? In our school we don’t use this (word), neither (do) we have this kind of mind.”
“You should know better as an educator,” Politis told the Herald. “What else are you teaching our children?”
According to a screenshot provided to the newspaper by Politis, Vitale sent a message to the parents of all of the children at the preschool.
“We have not intended to offend anyone, and we are very sorry about any inconvenience,” Vitale’s message read. “The parents that know us, know that we have never had a bad intention in our institution.”
Studio Kids has three locations in Miami-Dade County, according to the Herald. The preschool serves infants and toddlers.
Vitale spoke to the newspaper and made a brief comment, directing further questions to her attorney.
“The issue is resolved already; 80% of the families are OK,” Vitale told the Herald.
Politis said she met with Vitale on Monday, WPLG reported.
“Her tone? A 180-degree change,” Politis told the television station. “Super apologetic and from what I understand, she even told us that over 40 to 50 families contacted her over the weekend.”
The Studio Kids parents who spoke to the Herald said the school is primarily Latino. According to Politis, the teacher who presented the blackface lesson is Latina.
Politis said she is glad that the school has apologized and was encouraged that other parents had withdrawn their children from the preschool.
“As a momma bear, I’m not going to let this slide,” Politis told WPLG. “I don’t have the luxury of ignorance, and I’m glad that other parents are being proactive and not being part of this and hopefully for a better future for everyone.”