Another Blackface Incident Sends U. of Oklahoma Students Reeling

Updated (1/24/2019, 8:39 a.m.) with a statement from the university’s president about the latest incident and news of two rallies planned for Thursday.

One day after gathering to denounce a video in which a student in blackface uses a racial slur, students at the University of Oklahoma were stunned on Wednesday to learn that another person in blackface was taunting them in plain view.

The university police were searching for an unknown person who was seen walking on and near the campus, his face painted black and his identity partly obscured by a red hat and a scarf.

A student videotaped the person, and the clip quickly shot out on social media. The news broke as students were still reeling from an emotional rally on Tuesday at which students and other protesters confronted the university’s president, James L. Gallogly, and demanded tougher action against racism. Two students involved in the earlier video have withdrawn from the university.

The president called the incident a “shameful moment” in the university’s history and vowed to continue working on a series of steps he had outlined to make the campus more welcoming to diverse students.

In the video clip posted on Wednesday, an unnamed female student calmly confronts the man in blackface, who continues walking quickly past storefronts across from the campus and looking straight ahead. “I guess President Gallogly’s message did not go through,” she says. “Again … again.”

Adran Gibbs Jr., president of the student government, said he had been stunned when a flood of text messages started rolling in.

“My reaction is, ‘Are you serious? This cannot be happening again,’” he said. “Students are really, really upset — some to the point where they’re afraid to walk around on campus without being harassed. They’re having trouble focusing in class and studying.”

The university’s Office of Student Affairs is cooperating in an investigation of the latest incident, Gibbs said. “We don’t know if he’s a student or someone who’s just trying to create chaos on the Norman campus.”

Karlos K. Hill, an associate professor of African-American studies and chair of the department, said he had been hearing from students who are confused and angry about the incident.

“We have a lot of outside agitators who come when they see an opportunity to create division, and it creates this narrative that this is a racially inhospitable, intolerant community,” he said. “I can tell you, as one of the most prominent black people on campus, that has not been my experience.”

The university posted an alert on Wednesday afternoon on Twitter: “An individual has been observed walking on and near campus in blackface. The individual has not been located by OUPD, and we have no information on whether he is a student. OUPD is working to ensure all on campus are safe.”

The person was wearing a T-shirt bearing the name of Tommy Sotomayor, whom the Huffington Post describes as a controversial YouTuber who has made “shocking accusations about black women, young gay men, and the black community.”

The university’s Black Student Association released a statement saying its members weren’t surprised by the latest incident “due to the lack of immediate action” by the university.

It also invited students to a residence hall’s storm shelter on Wednesday evening if they needed a “safe place to process all the emotions” stirred up by recent events. In the shelter, which doubles as a lounge and study space, students will be encouraged to strategize and try to come up with solutions, the notice said.

Gallogly issued a statement late Wednesday that read, in part: “Every strong organization faces adversity and challenges. Rising to those challenges is what leads to greatness. Events of the last few days have reinforced how critical it is to focus on ensuring OU creates a positive climate for students, staff, and faculty absent racism and disrespect.”

Students planned another antiracism rally at noon on Thursday, while a separate rally is scheduled for later in the day to support Gallogly, who some feel has been unfairly blamed for the recent events. Meanwhile, university athletes took to Twitter to register their disgust with the latest incidents.

Katherine Mangan writes about community colleges, completion efforts, and job training, as well as other topics in daily news. Follow her on Twitter @KatherineMangan, or email her at katherine.mangan@chronicle.com.