Four female students at San Marcos High School in Santa Barbara, California, have drawn criticism after posting a photo of themselves in blackface inside an African American Studies classroom. The image, which featured their faces digitally darkened, was shared on social media and has sparked a discussion about racial insensitivity.

The students, whose identities have not been disclosed, posed in the classroom mimicking an AI-generated image of four young Black boys in different poses. The post's caption included the phrase “meet the” alongside a ninja emoji, a symbol that some interpret as a coded reference to a racial slur.

San Marcos High School Principal Dare Holdren addressed the incident in a letter to parents released on Friday. He confirmed that the students had engaged in blackface, describing the behavior as a racial stereotype. According to Holdren, the matter was reported to school officials through the institution’s Safe to Speak Up reporting system approximately two weeks prior, prompting an immediate response from the administrative team.

While Principal Holdren stated that the school has "instituted consequences" for the four students involved, the specific disciplinary measures have not been publicly detailed. The incident has raised concerns about cultural sensitivity and race relations within the school community.