Salinas High School officials are conducting an investigation into the pictures and videos shared to the Instagram account “Shaniqua.shs” which circulated this weekend. The images showed students posing with and abusing a Black baby doll named Shaniqua. Amid controversy, the account has been deactivated, although screenshots of the images shared on the page reveal the disturbing ways in which students interacted with the doll.
“On Saturday, August 21st, Salinas High School administration became aware of disturbing images and videos circulating on social media,” a district statement released Sunday said. “The administration promptly initiated a full investigation which will include identifying those who were directly involved.”
Photos and videos from the account have spread across multiple social media platforms, including Facebook, TikTok, and Twitter. Numerous students posed with the doll, which is seen with white eyes and eyebrows drawn on its face, for photos and videos. In one video students stomped the doll’s body into the floor, and in another image the doll’s neck was pinned into the sunroof window of a vehicle. Students also allegedly ran over the doll with a car.
Students also wrote racial slurs on the page. One caption under an image of a student posing with the doll reads, “Abby meets Shawwniggua.” The doll was passed around at a Friday, Aug. 20, football game. One video showed the doll being swung by the neck in a purple bandana in the stands.
“The SUHSD does not condone this type of behavior and although the District has taken steps to support our African American students and staff, this recent incident demonstrates how much more support is needed,” the statement from the district said. “We urge families to also take time to talk with their students about the damaging effects of racist behavior. Counseling is available at all of our school sites for any students who may need support.”
A parent spoke to KION546 and questioned how the behavior was able to go on even on school grounds.
“These kids feel comfortable enough to do this on campus at a football game where there’s parents, where there’s staff members and other children. And you’re going to tell me all of the staff being around and even parents, nobody saw this go on, nobody saw that there was something wrong with this,” she said.
An anonymous students told the Monterey Herald, “This isn’t the first time that racism has happened at Salinas High. … There were people drawing very racist, stereotypical drawings on it like face tattoos, an ankle monitor and painting the lips to make it look bigger.”
The district has not commented on what disciplinary action students will face. A petition demanding the students involved be punished has received nearly 10,000 signatures. The Salinas Police Department said it does not appear that a crime has taken place and that the school district is handling the situation.
