Hip-hop artist Common has said he wants to meet with a white teacher who dressed up in blackface to look like him, so he can “educate” him about how to behave in a classroom.
On Thursday (11 November), a video circulated Twitter showing a man teaching a class on Halloween at the Milpitas Unified School District, with his face covered in black makeup.
He can be heard rapping to a drumbeat he was playing to the class, seen in a video posted by a student with the caption: “Sooooooooo... one of our WHITE teachers at mhs yesterday decided to paint his face so look like common the rapper yesterday.”
The school has since suspended him.
Common, speaking at LAX airport, revealed he is heading to the same area as the teacher and would like to ”break down” why it’s “unacceptable” face to face.
“It’s important that teachers and people who are educating our children are well educated themselves on things that deal with history, culture,” he told TMZ. “Emotional intelligence is important. We need to look at the teacher, the administration and people we have leading our children in classrooms and make sure they’re fully equipped.”
He added: “In truth, I want to do something at that school. I’m headed now to that area,”
When asked if he’d be up for meeting the teacher, Common said: “For sure. I would love to hear what makes [him] think you can go up and do that. I’ll break it down to him. It’ll be done with love, but it would be for real. I would let him know... this ain’t acceptable.”
The rapper stated it was “awkward” watching the video.
