Sarah Mitchell
A photograph of Covington Catholic High School students wearing blackface and/or black body paint at a basketball game went viral in 2019. The image sparked accusations of racism against the students, who were already facing scrutiny for a separate incident involving a confrontation with a Native American activist. While some defended the students' actions as harmless school spirit, others, including researchers at Snopes, noted similarities to racist minstrel shows and the potentially offensive nature of any makeup reminiscent of blackface. The photograph and accompanying videos have since been removed from Covington Catholic's YouTube page, and the school closed temporarily due to threats.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of the incident | 27 November 2011 or 2012 |
| Location | Covington Catholic High School basketball game |
| Participants | Covington Catholic High School students |
| Description of the incident | Students wore black body paint and/or blackface during a basketball game and while chanting at the Lincoln Memorial |
| Response from the school | The school removed the video from its YouTube page and cancelled classes due to threats |
| Public response | The incident sparked accusations of racism and public scrutiny, with some people condemning the students' behaviour as racist |
| Student response | Students claimed they were simply showing school spirit and meant no harm |
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What You'll Learn
- Covington Catholic students wore blackface during a pep rally
- The photo shows Covington students yelling at a black basketball player
- Covington Catholic students mocked a Native American elder
- Covington Catholic is known for zealous chanting and abrasive behaviour
- Covington Catholic students wore blackface at a 2012 basketball game
Covington Catholic students wore blackface during a pep rally
Covington Catholic High School students were filmed wearing blackface during a pep rally. The footage, which was posted to the school's YouTube account, shows students wearing black body paint and chanting at a basketball game. The incident has sparked controversy, with some accusing the students of racism and others defending them as simply showing school spirit.
In the video, the students can be seen wearing black paint on their faces, chests, and arms, resembling racist blackface historically used in productions mocking black people. The game was a "blackout" themed event, where fans wore black to support the team. However, some have pointed out that the use of black paint can evoke racist minstrel shows from the 19th century.
Covington Catholic has been under scrutiny following a separate incident where students were filmed allegedly mocking a Native American elder at the Indigenous Peoples March in Washington, D.C. The school closed due to threats made after the video surfaced.
Some have defended the students in the blackface video, claiming they meant no harm and were just participating in a school tradition. One student, Sam Schroder, explained that the pep rallies have different themes like "nerd, business, white-out, blue-out, and black-out" days to show school spirit. He also mentioned that black paint has not been allowed at blackout games in recent years.
The incident has sparked a debate about the intentions and impact of the students' actions, with some condemning the use of blackface as racially insensitive and others insisting it was not meant to be offensive.
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The photo shows Covington students yelling at a black basketball player
In 2019, Covington Catholic High School students came under fire for wearing black body paint at sporting events. A photograph of the incident shows Covington students yelling at or around an opposing player, who is black. Three boys in the photo are wearing black paint covering their chests and faces.
The photo, which first appeared on Bluegrass Preps, a site dedicated to prep sports in Kentucky, dates back to a November 2012 basketball game between Covington and a county school. The event was Covington Catholic's season-opening game at George Rogers Clark High School.
Covington Catholic is known for its zealous chanting and spirited school culture. The school frequently holds theme nights, including "nerd, business, whiteout, blue-out, and blackout" days, where students dress accordingly. Covington students have defended the photo, explaining that they were simply showing school spirit and that the black paint was part of a "blackout" theme. However, others have criticised the photo, drawing comparisons to racist caricature and blackface, a racist practice used to mock black people.
The photo of the Covington students in blackface sparked controversy and accusations of racism against the school, especially in the context of a recent viral video that appeared to show Covington Catholic students mocking a Native American elder while wearing "Make America Great Again" hats. The school received threats and closed due to safety concerns.
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Covington Catholic students mocked a Native American elder
In January 2019, a viral video emerged of Covington Catholic High School students appearing to mock Native American activists, including 64-year-old Omaha Tribe elder Nathan Phillips, at the Indigenous Peoples March in Washington, D.C. The video sparked a national debate and threw the school into the spotlight, with many condemning the students' behaviour as racist.
In the video, the students were wearing "Make America Great Again" hats and allegedly mocking Phillips, with some doing mocking tomahawk chops and Phillips claiming he heard chants of "build a wall". The incident occurred after the students had attended the annual anti-abortion rally, March for Life, where they were first targeted by a group of Black Hebrew Israelites who launched insults and slurs at them.
Following the incident, other videos emerged showing different sides of the story. Nick Sandmann, a junior at Covington, stated that he did not feel he needed to apologise but wished the situation had been avoided. He claimed he was trying to remain "motionless and calm" and was smiling at Phillips to signal his goodwill. Sandmann also said that the video was spreading "misinformation" about the incident and that African-American protestors were saying "hateful things" to him and his classmates. Covington Catholic closed due to threats made against the school in the aftermath.
In the wake of the controversy, a photograph from 2012 resurfaced showing Covington Catholic students wearing black body paint at a basketball game. The photo shows students yelling at or around an opposing player, who is black. While some claim the paint was part of a school tradition of "blackout" games, where fans wore black to support the team, others have criticised it as racist and evocative of blackface. Covington Catholic's YouTube account removed footage of students in black paint following media inquiries.
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Covington Catholic is known for zealous chanting and abrasive behaviour
Covington Catholic High School has been at the centre of several controversies in recent years, including the use of blackface by students and allegations of abrasive behaviour.
In January 2019, a photo of Covington Catholic students wearing blackface during a basketball game began circulating on social media. The photo, which was taken in 2014, shows three students wearing black paint on their faces and chests while yelling at an opposing player, who is black. Some have interpreted this behaviour as a racist caricature, while others have defended it as a harmless expression of school spirit. Covington Catholic students have also been known to paint their faces and bodies black during sporting events, a practice that has been criticised as racially insensitive.
In addition to the blackface controversy, Covington Catholic has also been criticised for its zealous chanting and abrasive behaviour. In 2019, the school faced backlash after a group of students was filmed allegedly mocking Native American elder Nathan Phillips at the Indigenous Peoples March in Washington, D.C. The students, who were wearing "'Make America Great Again' hats, were seen surrounding, intimidating, and chanting at Phillips and other Native American activists. Phillips claimed he heard chants of "build a wall," although this has been disputed by some Covington Catholic students.
The incident sparked a national debate, with some defending the students' actions as school spirit and others criticising them as racially insensitive. Covington Catholic has been described by alumni as a school that takes pride in its sports culture and zealous chanting. However, to some opponents at past games, the students' actions have felt abrasive and racially insensitive. For example, Phillip Hawkins, a senior at the University of Kentucky, recalled a game during the 2014-15 season in which Covington Catholic students chanted "caramel" at him, which he interpreted as a racial taunt.
While Covington Catholic has faced scrutiny and criticism for its students' behaviour, it is important to note that the school has also taken steps to address these issues. In the wake of the blackface and Indigenous Peoples March controversies, the school issued a joint statement with the Roman Catholic Diocese of Covington condemning the students' actions and apologising to Phillips. Additionally, the school has made its social media accounts private to prevent public access to their content.
Overall, while Covington Catholic is known for its zealous chanting and spirited school culture, there have been instances where this enthusiasm has crossed the line into abrasive and racially insensitive behaviour. The school has faced scrutiny and criticism for these incidents and has taken steps to address them, indicating a recognition of the need for improved sensitivity and respect.
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Covington Catholic students wore blackface at a 2012 basketball game
In 2019, Covington Catholic High School students came under scrutiny for wearing black body paint at sporting events, including a 2012 basketball game. The photo and video footage of the incident sparked accusations of racism and blackface, with critics noting the resemblance to racist caricatures and minstrel shows. Covington Catholic students and alumni defended the practice as a school tradition related to "blackout" games, where fans wore black to support the team. They denied any racial intent, claiming it was a display of school spirit.
The controversy surrounding Covington Catholic students began when a video from 2019 went viral, showing a confrontation between the students and a Native American elder, Nathan Phillips, at the Indigenous Peoples March in Washington, D.C. The students, wearing "'Make America Great Again' hats", were accused of mocking Phillips and chanting "build a wall." This incident brought the school into the national spotlight, and subsequent investigations uncovered past incidents of questionable behaviour by its students.
Amid the scrutiny, a photograph and video footage from a 2012 basketball game surfaced, showing Covington Catholic students with their faces, chests, and arms covered in black paint. The image was originally posted on the school's YouTube page under a "Colonel Crazies Compilation Video" but was later deleted. The students in the photo were identified as members of the "Colonel Crazies," the school's cheering section known for their zealous chants and spirited behaviour.
The image sparked intense debate, with some interpreting it as blackface and others defending it as part of a school tradition. According to Covington Catholic students and alumni, the school frequently held theme nights, including "nerd," "business", "white-out", "blue-out", and "black-out" days. They claimed that the black paint was simply part of the "black-out" theme, showing support for the basketball team.
However, critics argued that the black paint evoked racist connotations, regardless of intent. They pointed out the resemblance to racist minstrel shows from the 19th century, where white performers used blackface to mock black people. Additionally, it was noted that the students in the photo appeared to be yelling at or around an opposing player who was black, adding to the perception of racial insensitivity.
While the students and alumni of Covington Catholic maintained that their actions were innocent and not racially motivated, the incident sparked a broader conversation about the potential for misinterpretation and the impact of such displays, regardless of intent. The controversy surrounding Covington Catholic students wearing blackface at a 2012 basketball game highlights the complexities of racial sensitivities and the need for cultural awareness in school traditions and sporting events.
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Frequently asked questions
The photo in question shows Covington Catholic High School students wearing black body paint and/or blackface in the stands at a basketball game.
Yes, the photo is authentic. It was posted on the official YouTube page of Covington Catholic but was later removed following media inquiries.
The photo appears to be from a November 2012 basketball game between Covington and a county school. It was a "blackout" game, during which fans wore black to support the team.
Some claim that the students were simply following a school tradition and showing school spirit. However, others argue that the blackface was racially insensitive and evoked racist minstrel shows from the 19th century.
The photo sparked accusations of racism and controversy among social media users. The school also received threats, causing it to close temporarily.
