SAN FRANCISCO (AP) – Fourteen students from a mostly white Catholic high school in San Francisco have been suspended for attending an outdoor weekend party where young people wore clothes meant to mimic a style associated with urban black culture.
The Rev. Edwin Harris, president of St. Ignatius College Preparatory High School, told parents in a letter Thursday that the gathering held Saturday at a large city park promoted pervasive negative stereotypes “with racial overtones and racist implications.”
Harris did not elaborate, but St. Ignatius Principal Patrick Ruff told the San Francisco Chronicle the event was billed as a party for white people who emulate the language, gestures and dress popularized by rap and hip-hop videos.
Harris says his students did not organize the party, which involved teenagers from several schools.
Student Body President Lizzie Ford told KRON’s J.R. Stone, “I was shocked…and I remain shocked.”
“With racial undertones where students dressed inappropriately…promoted black stereotypes,” Principal Patrick Ruff said.
“They were wearing like big jerseys and hoop earrings,” one student said who did not reveal her name.
At the party, non-black students dressed up in that clothing. Fifty-seven percent of the Catholic high school is white and some are deeply concerned.
“It should not be taken lightly, and I feel like it did affect the SI community as a whole,” another unidentified student said.
Just 5 percent of the student body is black.
Students tell KRON there were kids from several other schools at this party. But St. Ignatius is the only school that has taken action and suspended students.The Associated Press contributed to this report