Two students have been disciplined for allegedly ‘blacking up’.
A South African university suspended two white female students for
painting their faces in what it called a ‘blackface’ incident.
The face paint has been deemed to be racially offensive, but one of
the students said they were actually dressing as purple space aliens for
a party with a galactic theme.
The episode at Stellenbosch University comes amid heightened debate
on social media about racism in South Africa, which became a
multi-racial democracy after the end of white minority rule in 1994.
The University of Stellenbosch campus, South Africa (Picture: Alamy)<br />Alamy
University spokesman Martin Viljoen said that the university is aware
of ‘new evidence’ (a reference to the account about alien costumes) and
that an investigation is ongoing.
In a statement, the university said it acted swiftly after the reported ‘blackface’ incident that occurred Friday.
The uni organised workshops and other discussions in residences over
the weekend ‘to create awareness and understanding,’ on the issue.
The statement read: ‘Stellenbosch University condemns all forms of
racism and discrimination and acknowledges the severe negative impact of
the pain and trauma experienced by students, staff and members of the
public.’
One of the suspended students, Poekie Briedenhann, said there had
been a misunderstanding because the dark purple paint and glitter for a
‘stellar space’ party ‘appeared as black’, South African media reported.
One photograph of the students, posted on social media, shows them with dark face paint.
Although another photo shows a woman with lighter purple face paint,
glitter and blue lips as well as what appear to be antennae made out of
silver foil.
It’s not the first time a ‘blackface’ incident has happened at Stellenbosch University.
In 2014, two white students were accused of racism after painting
their faces dark to portray tennis stars Venus and Serena Williams at a
costume party.
They later apologised.
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