The University of Oklahoma is embroiled in yet another blackface controversy within a week after two women left the school over the same issue.
A student tweeted a video of a man covered up from head to toe and wearing blackface as he strolled on campus. The clip went viral Jan. 23, and it is not known if the man, who is white, is a student.
“Face painted black again,” senior student Ashonte Winston remarks from behind the camera. “I guess president Gallogly’s message did not go through. Again, again!”
That message, made in response to sorority members painting their faces black and dropping a racial slur on Snapchat, was one that condemned such actions.
The man in Wednesday’s video is seen wearing a T-shirt reading “Tommy Mr. King of Controversy Sotomayor the Anti-PC tour.”
Tommy Sotomayor is a conservative Black YouTube personality who is known for his controversial views on Black women. Sotomayor weighed in on the University of Oklahoma controversy by blasting media coverage of it relating to him.
“He just kept walking, didn’t say a word,” Winston recalled of the video to KFOR Thursday. “I don’t know what his motive was.”
After the school was made aware of the video, it reported that campus police looked into the matter and that the man has not been located or identified. President Jim Gallogly issued a statement speaking to the importance of ongoing conversations about race on campus.
“Today we expect our students to continue respectful dialogue at multiple gatherings and marches to address the important issues of racism and equity that have been the theme of meetings across our campus in the past week. Campuses have historically been an important place for individuals with different experiences, opinions and values to come together and be heard and achieve change. As president of OU, I want to make it clear that I consider student, faculty and staff voices essential to debates on important issues. The opportunity for real change comes when the voices are raised in a civil and respectful manner, listening occurs, and the energy is focused on improving systems now and for future generations.
“There are number of actions currently being vetted with key stakeholders which I hope to share soon,” he continued. “In the past week I have had intense discussions with students, input from faculty and staff, and feedback from both inside and outside our university community. You have my assurance I am committed to creating a culture on campus where everyone feels safe and welcome as they continue the pursuit of learning and civil dialogue.”
Meanwhile, the campus forged ahead with its Better Together March on Thursday afternoon.
This incident follows another video where two women were seen wearing black paint on their face with one proclaiming “I am a n—–.” The women, who were students at the university, were dismissed from the Tri Delta sorority they had been a part of and then voluntarily left the school.
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