An Ole Miss student admits to posting a photo in blackface. Here's how the college responded.

Sarah Fowler
Mississippi Clarion Ledger
  • The student was wearing an honors college shirt while in blackface.
  • Students encouraged to avoid culturally inappropriate behavior as Halloween approaches.

An Ole Miss student recently admitted to posting a photo in blackface on social media. In response, the university is reminding students "culture is not a costume."

The student, identified only as a male enrolled in the honors college, "self-reported his post and acknowledged the racist and hurtful impact of his poor judgment," according to an email sent to honors college students Tuesday.

The student was wearing an honors college shirt while in blackface. The date of the photo was not given.

According to the email, the student is currently working on a "Restorative Justice Plan," and school officials "believe the student is remorseful and eager to engage with appropriate groups on campus."

"Although we deplore the racist post, we thank the student for coming forward and for his willingness to educate himself and to dialogue with those directly impacted," the email stated. It was signed by the SMBHC deans, the Honors Senate director and assistant director and the Honors College Minority Engagement Club president and vice president. 

'A disturbing trend' on campuses

In a separate email to all students, titled "My Culture Is Not A Costume," Katrina Caldwell, vice chancellor for Diversity & Community Engagement, and Noel Wilkin, provost and executive vice chancellor for Academic Affairs, wrote, "As we enter the season of costume parties, please avoid culturally inappropriate behavior. A recent post reinforces why this is important."

The letter stated: 

"As the season of fall parties and Halloween celebrations approaches, a disturbing trend on college campuses involves students and campus organizations engaging in culturally inappropriate behavior.

"Some examples include the use of blackface, costumes that mock or demean other people’s culture, and identity-based slurs. While most of these cases involve examples of protected speech and expressions, we want our community to understand that these practices are both insensitive and rooted in a history of hate that causes real harm to individuals and our community."

The letter then gives students several questions to ask themselves before wearing a costume. 

  • Is my costume intended to be funny? Is it funny because it is making fun of real people, human traits, or cultures?
  • Does my costume attempt to represent or mock a culture that is not my own?
  • Does my costume perpetuate stereotypes, misinformation, or historical and cultural inaccuracies?
  • Does my costume packaging include the following words "traditional", "ethnic", "colonial", "cultural", "authentic" or "tribal"?
  • Would I be embarrassed or ashamed if someone from the group I am portraying saw me wearing this?

It adds, "Our university community is stronger and more effective when we take responsibility for actions that minimize the dignity of others."

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