HICKMAN, Neb. (KLKN) – A business in Hickman is facing backlash after an employee wore blackface for a Halloween costume.
On Thursday, J Boutique posted a picture on its Facebook page of the owner, Jenn Folkerts, and an employee in their Halloween costumes.
Under the post, Folkerts said she was dressed as Martha Stewart and the employee was dressed as the rapper Snoop Dogg for the town’s Trick or Treat on the Trail event.
The boutique’s page posts daily to thousands of followers, many of whom saw the picture and reacted before it was deleted.
Screenshots of it were then shared on other community pages.
Portia Burch, a social justice worker from Nebraska, said using blackface, even for a costume, is not OK.
“It’s 2023,” she said. “That’s my first thought is, ‘How is this still happening?” she said. “After that it was kind of that anger of, ‘How are you still using people as a costume?'”
In a statement posted to the boutique’s page Friday, Folkerts said she was made aware of the “big picture” in this situation.
Her quote says in part:
“It was in no way intended to be malicious or cruel in any regard but I completely understand how it could be perceived that way. I was naive, ignorant and unaware and I completely own that in every way. I want to sincerely apologize to anyone that we hurt or offended, to the City of Hickman, and to my friends and family.”
She said she was “sick about this” and would “take some time to reflect” and educate herself.
The comments on that post were restricted by the boutique before the post was deleted altogether.
Channel 8 reached out to J Boutique for further comment, but it declined.
Burch called the apology “hollow” and “self-centered.”
“It was thanking the community first and then throwing in the, ‘I’ll be taking some time for myself,'” she said. “So it just seemed very intentional, and it seemed like the apology only came from being caught.”
Burch said many Americans, including some commenters on the posts, try to avoid accountability by claiming that they don’t know any better.
“I don’t buy it because she has 7,000 followers on her Facebook page, which means she’s online,” she said. “I think when people say ignorant, they think they’re going to get a pass for some grace. But the grace period for blatant racism like that is just over; it’s gone.”
Burch said this isn’t something people can overlook and brush off as just a costume.
“It happens every Halloween,” she said. “I wish I could say I’m surprised by this, but I’m not.”
Burch said if you want to dress up as a character, you can do it “without painting your face.”
She said she’s glad there’s discussions about this, which she hopes will make people think before they act.
“Just remember you’re dealing with human beings,” Burch said. “It’s a sense of humanity. And it’s mocking, it’s not paying tribute, to paint your skin a different color.”
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October 28, 2023 at 06:55AM
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Hickman boutique faces backlash after employee wears blackface for Halloween costume - KLKN
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