MONTICELLO, IL (Chambana Today) – Superintendent Adam Clapp of the Monticello School District issued a public apology on Wednesday after his daughter, who is White, portrayed a Black basketball star, JuJu Watkins, during a school wax museum event. The portrayal, which included makeup to darken her skin tone, sparked outrage among parents and raised concerns about racism and cultural sensitivity.
At the school board meeting, Clapp expressed regret for not providing more culturally sensitive guidance and acknowledged that the well-intentioned act resulted in unintended consequences.
Some parents, including Tim Higham, a father of two Black daughters in the district, criticized the portrayal as blackface, pointing to the long history of racism tied to the practice. Higham expressed that White people do not have the authority to decide what is offensive to people of color, emphasizing the emotional toll it had on his family and others in the community. “Blackface, racism, power,” Higham said. “Get uncomfortable, because uncomfortable doesn’t begin to describe the feelings that have ripped through our home and others in the community over the last 13 days.”
The incident also prompted a strong response from Dr. Anna Higham, who criticized Clapp for waiting nearly two weeks to address the issue publicly. She expressed concern about the lack of immediate action and called for increased support for students of color in the district. “Why are we not protecting the students of color in this district?” Dr. Higham asked. “It is happening every day to them, right now.”
The school board acknowledged the need for greater sensitivity and awareness, with Board President Zach Hillard recognizing that the intent of the wax museum event was to honor role models. However, Hillard emphasized that the district must learn from this experience and take responsibility for creating a more inclusive environment moving forward.
The district now faces calls for educational initiatives on racism and cultural sensitivity before the end of the school year, with many parents seeking a long-term commitment to supporting students of color and fostering inclusivity within the school community.
