Being woke is very exhausting. Mining everything for racial and social justice outrages means making dumb mistakes and then having to invent even dumber new premises to justify them.

Like black blackface.

This week, an ASU instructor, and a librarian, who hold themselves out as being Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) gurus, falsely accused a Black DJ of wearing blackface during a charity event for the Scottsdale Unified school district.

Stuart Rhoden and Jill Lassen attacked the Scottsdale Unified School District’s Hopi Elementary PTA for hiring Koko Kim Hunter to host their charity auction. The two were informed after their attack that Mr. Hunter is, in fact, a Black man, who was not wearing blackface.

Rhoden, who is an instructor in ASU’s University College teaching an entry level college-orientation type class and one upper level general education class, is a member of Scottsdale Unified’s Equity and Inclusion Committee and the Scottsdale Human Relations Commission, which claims to “promote all dimensions of diversity” as an advisory body to the mayor, city council and staff. Critics say the Commission may promote some levels of diversity, but not diversity of thought.

Lassen, who has earned a reputation for her abusive behavior towards other parents she refers to as “super rich White Karens,” serves as a co-chair for the Scottsdale Parent Council (SPC) DEI Committee. The Council is an organization, according to District sources, created to support the administration’s agenda and all of its policies and practices.

Rhoden responded by arguing that, a Black man, apparently in Black face is an entirely different discussion than a White person. However I did not state that the person was White. It was assumed that was my intent, and perhaps it was, but nonetheless, looking on his FB page (photos below), it seems at the very least he is in darker make-up if not Black face or I am completely mistaken and it’s the lighting of the patio.

Anytime you start sounding like a 9/11 Truther and referencing the lighting on the patio, you know your argument is dumb and crazy.

Equity and diversity now means accusing a black man of darkening his face or blaming the lighting. MLK would be proud.

So here’s what I want to say. I apologize to dude for the implication, but the sentiment still stands, Black face by anyone, in this day and age is problematic. I also apologize to folks who reposted and made other statements based on my assumption.

The battle against white blackface has been won, let the battle against black blackface begin.