Lee U. students apologize for blackface costume
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) – Two students at Lee University in Tennessee have apologized for wearing blackface when they dressed up for a rap-themed party last week.
The costumes included long white T-shirts with the title of a popular rap song by YG that includes a variation of the N-word.
The costumes became a public controversy after someone posted a photo of them online Saturday.
Vice President of University Relations Jerome Hammond said the students have apologized. He said they did not realize how offensive their costumes might appear.
Lee is a private Christian school in Cleveland of about 4,500. The school is 83 percent white.
Hammond said the school’s leadership team is discussing how to address the issue in a larger way.
