Teens wearing facial masks spark blackface concern in Mokena (Illinois)

The Herald-News ^ | 5/7/2019 | Lindsay Gloor

[simpson96]

A woman reported a blackface incident to police Saturday after she saw a group of young people at a Mokena gas station in black facial masks.

The white teens had applied black peel-off facial masks before going to the Speedway at 19724 Wolf Road about 3:15 p.m. Saturday, Mokena Police Chief Steve Vaccaro said.

“[The masks] had to dry for a certain period of time, so they went to the Speedway to get slushies,” Vaccaro said.

He said the Freeman-brand masks were made out of volcanic ash and were supposed to clear pores. Facial masks such as this one typically are applied as a gel or liquid on an individual’s face.

A young woman took offense to the masks and told police it appeared the teenagers were depicting blackface – the racist practice of a white person darkening his or her face.

Blackface stems from minstrel shows in the early 1800s, in which white performers with blackened faces depicted blacks as lazy, ignorant and prone to criminal acts, according to the National Museum of African American History and Culture.

Vaccaro said police determined there was “no criminality,” but a school resource officer from Lincoln-Way School District 210 did reach out to the department for information on the incident.

[the OlLine Rebel]

Notice apparently anyone else BUT white could do it. Yellows, reds and mixes would be OK.

[sergeantdave]

“You think the students got in trouble?”

Only if the parents allow it. If the school resource officer causes problems, it’s up to the parents to storm the schoolboard meeting 1,000 strong and demand the “officer” be fired. That’s how schools are controlled by parents - get involved and read the riot act to leftists.

[Larry Lucido]

I thought it was going to be illegal to call the police when no one was doing anything illegal. Guess that never got passed.