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[Dalek]

‘I Stand With Ted': A school board member who wore blackface wouldn't resign. Now, he's praised.

It was just a few months ago, as racist graffiti spread across U.S. campuses, that an Arkansas school board member's blackface Halloween costume became a symbol of racial outrage.

Ted Bonner, who sits on the school board in tiny Blevins, Ark., had dressed for a party in bib overalls and a straw hat, his face painted black and his lips bright red, recalling minstrel shows of the 19th century.

A photo of him holding a sign — ”Blak Lives Matters" — spread virally online.

At the time, Blevins school officials sounded as appalled as anyone. The superintendent said he was embarrassed, but couldn't fire an elected official.

Today, Bonner still sits on the school board — with a crowd of supporters, his name on a T-shirt and an award for ”Outstanding Board Member."

School let out early Monday, ABC affiliate KATV reported, for a school board meeting at which Bonner was given the training recognition.

The award itself is usually innocuous, and came about somewhat by accident. It's routine for board members who complete 25 hours of state-mandated training in classes for school finance, community relations and other basics.

”It's our fault," said Kristen Garner, an attorney for the Arkansas School Boards Association, which provides the training. ”I am fully aware of the irony."

”It's a small enameled lapel pin," she explained. ”We encourage the local district to present these to the board member, because it creates a nice photo op," she said. ”It was all generated and sent out before anyone had any idea."

Garner said she only realized who Bonner was when she saw coverage of Monday's meeting in the news.

As his blackface photos went viral in November, the Arkansas NAACP demanded that Bonner resign, as did many in town.

Angry residents filled the next school board meeting, at which Bonner gave a defensive apology, according to NBC affiliate KARK.

”I didn't know there was no such a thing as blackface," he said. ”They made a movie out of white chicks. What's the difference?"

Another board member, Carl McGill, told the crowd that his colleague needed to make another apology.

”I was going to ask . . . if he would be willing to stand in front of the whole school, the whole school in the gym, and apologize to everyone, the whole community," McGill said. ”I think he would."

Garner said the district hired a lawyer this week to help deal with the fallout.

”This continues to be a somewhat volatile situation," she said.

And it might continue to be.

If Bonner completes another 25 hours of training, he'll automatically receive the group's Master Board Member award.

”We will continue to put his name on a list and give him an award, as long as he's a school board member in the state of Arkansas," Garner said.

”We probably do need to think harder about how we can do a better job raising awareness of diversity."

A member of a school board who speaks like "”I didn't know there was no such a thing "

 

[echoshifting]

How could a person have so little cultural awareness they don't even know what blackface is, yet they remember the movie White Chicks

 

[International Iron Man]

Well it looks like he took Obama's words about getting in another man's skin a step too far.

 

[RinsFury]

I....just...holy fuck. And he's keeping his job? Wow.

 

[Hollycat]

... Wow, that is hardcore racist as fuck

 

[Kai Dracon]

How could a person have so little cultural awareness they don't even know what blackface is, yet they remember the movie White Chicks

It's bullshit and the same kind of open faced lying these people always fall back on.

He made that costume, put on the make-up, and mocked BLM. Of course he knows exactly what he was doing.

 

[Mighty Chin]

That is Actual "Black Face" with all the intention of the world behind it.

 

[Silver Arrows]

Oh man, if Bish was still mod...this thread would be just as fun as the Zwarte Piet threads.

Holy fuck, and he pulled the White Chicks excuse too. Hardcore racism, man.

 

[Valhelm]

That shit should be a hate crime

 

[hawk2025]

How could a person have so little cultural awareness they don't even know what blackface is, yet they remember the movie White Chicks

Right?

Dead giveaway.

 

[International Iron Man]

Once I saw it said Arkansas, I was not surprised at all that someone would do this and that it would go unpunished.

 

[BrutishMrFish]

How could a person have so little cultural awareness they don't even know what blackface is, yet they remember the movie White Chicks

I think he's just trying to deflect people saying he's a racist by pretending that he's really just stupid.

Wouldn't be the first time.

 

[WiiredShawn]

"I didn't know blackface was a thing!"

* uses a specific caricature of Black people that dates back to when blackface was more common *

 

[Goliath]

Oh man, if Bish was still mod...this thread would be just as fun as the Zwarte Piet threads.

This is the second time I have heard about Bish not being a mod. What happened?

 

[pompidu]

Oh man, if Bish was still mod...this thread would be just as fun as the Zwarte Piet threads.

Wooo what happened to bish?

 

[Slayven]

How could a person have so little cultural awareness they don't even know what blackface is, yet they remember the movie White Chicks

They know what the fuck they doing. He said fuck black people and they are cosigning

 

[Psychological Intellect]

arkansas


hope somebody breaks his legs

 

[Silver Arrows]

This is the second time I have heard about Bish not being a mod. What happened?

Stepped down for a bit because his game might cause conflict of interests

 

[Meatfist]

“I didn’t know there was no such a thing as blackface,” he said. “They made a movie out of white chicks. What’s the difference?”

oh my fuck

 

[sixteen-bit]

smh

 

[Gordon Shumway]

Fuck him and the rest of his past/present/future defenders..

 

[collige]

I think he's just trying to deflect people saying he's a racist by pretending that he's really just stupid.

Wouldn't be the first time.

He's pulling the ol' "I didn't know you couldn't do that".

 

[L Thammy]

Wait, so he didn't know what blackface was, but the overalls and straw hat were part of the costume?
He doesn't know that people used to wear blackface but he goes for the classic blackface ensemble instead of a more modern costume?

 

[Kusagari]

I don't know bout no blackface but what bout white chicks ya'll

 

[Spider from Mars]

The White Chicks defense™

 

[Mattlikewhoa]

...AND he's keeping his job??!!?

Nope, I need to take a walk from my desk...

 

[Alucrid]

Wait, so he didn't know what blackface was, but the overalls and straw hat were part of the costume?
He doesn't know that people used to wear blackface but he goes for the classic blackface ensemble instead of a more modern costume?

why would you put it past a racist to also be a liar?

 

[Nepenthe]

They're all just economically anxious. We need to sit down and understand THEIR plight.

 

[Joyful]

both racist and a pretty good troll with that white chicks comment

 

[Frozenprince]

HE REALLY PULLED OUT WHITE CHICKS

I never in my life thought someone would genuinely use white chicks as a fucking barometer.

 

[Slayven]

"Blak" lets you know what he thinks about the intelligence of black people

 

[studyguy]

I didn't know about black face but coincidentally painted my face black, lips red and posted up with a Black Lives Matter sign because I'm just that creative, came to me on the spot.

 

[SwipeLeftHoney]

God I don't know what to say. I really don't... smh

 

[SeanC]

Dumbfuck in Arkansas doing what dumbfucks in Arkansas do. #Trump2016

 

[Kusagari]

HE REALLY PULLED OUT WHITE CHICKS

I never in my life thought someone would genuinely use white chicks as a fucking barometer.

It's the kind of shit I'd expect a 4channer to use as a defense.

 

[djplaeskool]

The White Chicks defense™

-Denies knowledge of blackface
-Cites Wayans Brothers movie

Seems legit.

 

[jon bones]

infuriating, but unsurprising

Stepped down for a bit because his game might cause conflict of interests

how the fuck do GAF mods have a better sense of ethical transparency than the president elect god damn

 

[Slayven]

They're all just economically anxious. We need to sit down and understand THEIR plight.

I am sure someone will come in and post a long article about it is about class and not race and we got to understand how rural people are suffering. It will be bullshit as usual.

 

[Peltz]

Oh man, if Bish was still mod...this thread would be just as fun as the Zwarte Piet threads.

Holy fuck, and he pulled the White Chicks excuse too. Hardcore racism, man.

Bish is no more?

 

[Frozenprince]

So the lesson here, on top of "Blackface is bad white people what the hell is wrong with you" as always.

Is, "Man, fuck Damon Wayans".

 

[DragonSworne]

There a comes a time when you just sanction your own states.

 

[QuantumBro]

Sounds like an unfortunate situation for the district to be in. They just gotta hope people are smart enough to vote him out next time he's up, which probably won't be likely.

I feel bad for laughing at how the awards worked.

 

[NandoGip]

...


*sigh*

 

[Slayven]

Sounds like an unfortunate situation for the district to be in. They just gotta hope people are smart enough to vote him out next time he's up, which probably won't be likely.

I feel bad for laughing at how the awards worked.

That is kinda of fucked up. Just show up and get a reward? Setting the bar low

 

[zoku88]

This is a 1:1 match of actual historical blackface. I wasn't expecting that.

 

[Afrocious]

They technically don't have to give him shit.

It's funny and messed up how people believe they're bound to systems so easily.

 

[dankir]

Keeping holding those L's Southern USA states... fucking terrible.

 

[Matsukaze]

I know exactly where I would like Ted and his supporters to stand.

 

[Gouty]

I guess the part that confuses me is that you mean to tell me there's no mechanism to fire an elected board member? No oversight of any kind ? The dude could just come to work with his dick out smoking a blunt and he still keep his job ? If he'd be let go for any of that then why wouldn't he be let go for this?

Next up, even if that were true and there really was no way to get rid of him, why then don't the remaining board members make it abundantly clear that they'll have no personal relationship and as little professional cooperation with him as their job allows? Why aren't they publicly denouncing him? If you're not doing that then you're ok with him.

 

[Derwind]

I love how the go to explanation for racist for situation of them getting exposed is "ignorance". It's brilliant and infuriating at the same time because they are dumb as shit to get caught, maybe they are socially & historically oblivious enough not to know that blackface is wrong....

And if this motherfucker is that stupid, why is he a member of a board charged with overseeing a institution designed to educated youth?