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Fayette County school leaders and local civil-rights advocates continue discussions following a September incident at Whitewater High School in which several spectators appeared in blackface during a volleyball game.
Even without the historical implications of blackface making a mockery of Black people, it was reported from a credible source to The Citizen that a black volleyball player present at the Whitewater game ran to the bathroom crying because she felt the people wearing blackface were making fun of her.
The group wearing black face and body paint and white afros had attended the game to cheer for a student-athlete on a day that was themed as “blackout”, not as official school cheerleaders. According to Superintendent Jonathan Patterson, the individuals included three adults and one student who does not attend Whitewater. “The school addressed the behavior directly with the individuals at the time,” Patterson said.
The person whose name was referenced on the t-shirts the blackface fans were wearing is both a Whitewater volleyball player and the daughter of an elementary school teacher in the district with 25 years of tenure. The Citizen is not naming that student or her mother, as they should not necessarily be held accountable for the questionable actions of others. When Dr. Patterson was asked to verify and comment on this situation he noted that privacy laws prevent the district from commenting on any specific personnel or disciplinary matters.
It is speculated that one of the blackface fans at the volleyball game may be an older sister of the volleyball player referenced on the t-shirts, but the blackface obscures her identity too much to be certain.
Community concern and NAACP response
The Fayette County NAACP met with district leaders in late September to discuss the incident. Branch President Kevin Pratt said the organization has urged the district to take “clear and transparent steps to rebuild trust within the school community,” including cultural-competency training for students and staff and stronger policy language around racially insensitive behavior.
“Our hearts are with the student who was emotionally affected,” Pratt said. “What may seem like a moment of costume or school spirit to some reopens generations of trauma tied to blackface and the mockery of Black identity. Our commitment is to ensure that every student in Fayette County feels seen, respected, and protected.”
Parents calling for accountability
A Whitewater Middle School parent, who asked not to be identified to protect her child’s privacy, told The Citizen she worries about the culture her student will inherit as they advance to the high school. She described the community reaction as “disheartening” and said families are asking how such behavior could happen in a system led by experienced educators.
“As a teacher, or as someone raising children in this community, you’d hope everyone understands why blackface is never acceptable,” the parent said. “It’s painful that this still has to be explained.”
What happens next
Superintendent Patterson said the district continues listening to community voices, including the NAACP, before finalizing any next steps. Pratt confirmed that another meeting between his organization and the school district is being scheduled to review progress and accountability measures.
For now, both sides say the goal is to ensure incidents like this never happen again—and to rebuild confidence that Fayette County schools are a place where all students feel safe and valued.
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