The Créteil academy indicated on Thursday March 13 that it was taking legal action after the distribution of photos of students with faces painted black during a carnival in a private Catholic establishment in Seine-et-Marne.
“Rector Julie Benetti shares the legitimate emotion aroused by the broadcast of photos of students with faces painted black during a carnival at their establishment.
In conjunction with diocesan management, she launched an administrative investigation.
She also refers the matter to the prosecutor
,” indicates the Créteil academy on X (formerly Twitter).
According to revelations from the daily
Libération
, the facts date back to March 7 during a carnival at the private Catholic high school Sainte-Céline in La Ferté-sous-Jouarre (Seine-et-Marne).
Three high school students
“were painted black with wooden spears and long dresses
,” testifies a student in the final year.
Another student assures that they imitated
“monkey cries”
.
This practice of “blackface” is considered racist by many associations fighting against discrimination.
Complaint filed against
“Any racist act at school, or elsewhere, must be denounced and punished
,” reacted on X the Minister of National Education Nicole Belloubet, who asked the rector
“to immediately shed light on this matter and to take, without delay, all necessary measures
.
Contacted by parents of students, the Representative Council of Black
Associations
(Cran) filed a complaint on Tuesday against
, one of the lawyers for the federation of associations.
“Blackface” evokes the “minstrel shows” born in the first part of the 19th century in the United States, shows during which white people blackened their faces to make fun of black people.