On Saturday, January 23, 2016 in the depths of Sigmund Stern Recreational Grove, a racially themed high school party took place that has sent shockwaves throughout the Bay Area. The outrage has also received coverage in news outlets in places like New York, San Antonio and even the United Kingdom. Almost 100 high schoolers from around the city attended a “wigga” party, in which white attendees dressed up in racially stereotypical attire and deliberately emulated racist, stereotypically derogatory behavior. Partygoers were spotted wearing shirts that read “thug life” and posed for photos while making gang signs with their fingers. Although there were black high school students that attended the party, the party crossed a line in many ways.
At Saint Ignatius College Preparatory, a Catholic, predominately white, San Francisco high school, the impact of the party was particularly painful. A large majority of the partygoers attend Saint Ignatius, where black students represent less than 5 percent of the student body. Once the publicly available photos were brought to the attention of the Black Student Union (BSU) at Saint Ignatius, BSU took action and informed the administration. 14 Saint Ignatius students were suspended for three days for making their illicit and immoral actions public on social media, but many more attended the racist keg party at Stern Grove and remain unpunished. The administration at Sacred Heart Cathedral Preparatory, another San Francisco high school, has additionally launched an investigation into any attendees from their school.
San Francisco is one of the most progressive cities in all of the United States. While this is a good thing in many ways, it often causes us to ignore the problems and flaws that still exist within our own community. Many native San Franciscans often feel that their community is above racism, but it is events like this that underscore the continuous need for social education and change.
The majority of partygoers likely had no grasp of what was wrong about the party’s theme and only saw it as an opportunity to be funny. Unfortunately, their fun came at the expense of an entire community, whose culture was mocked and defined by stereotypical concepts and a mocking wardrobe.
According to an interview done by a local CBS broadcast, many of the attendees defended their actions by claiming the theme was intended to mock or poke fun at “white trash.” While this may have been the intention, at its core, the theme is defined by a mockery and a misrepresentation of a different culture.
While it may be shocking for an issue like this to emerge in a progressive haven like San Francisco, the truth of the matter cannot be ignored. Across the country, young people continue to throw racially themed parties or dress in costumes that utilize “blackface,” Native American headdresses, or other stereotypical racialized devices. These continue to appropriate and mock other cultures. What’s particularly concerning is that these parties and costumes are the brainchild of the youth of our country. While this is disturbing, it’s also a sign that young people desperately need to be educated in social awareness and cultural empathy.
