Two football coaches from San Diego's Junipero Serra High School are under investigation after a picture of them in Halloween costumes with blackface was posted on Facebook, Fox 5 reports.
Head football coach Brian Basteyns and assistant coach Harold Seeley are seen in the photo with their faces painted to look like members of the Jamaican bobsled team made famous in the movie "Cool Runnings". The picture was removed from Facebook after one parent saw it and called for Basteyns to be fired.
Witnesses told 10News they saw Basteyns and Seeley wear the costumes to a SDSU game on Saturday. The high school's football players defended Basteyns, who met with the team Tuesday and apologized.
"He's an emotional guy, but I've never seen him break down like that," team captain Richard Price told 10News. "He was really upset that these allegations were happening and he felt as if he really did something wrong and he really wanted to express to us his apologies."
John Evans, president of the San Diego Unified School Board of Education, who heard about the photo Tuesday morning, said he doesn't support insensitive behavior by employees.
"I want to make it very clear that we do not in any way tolerate any inappropriate activities by our staff, and we highly value diversity and respect for all of our students and staff and the entire community of San Diego," Evans said.
The real issue is: Why do people think wearing blackface is acceptable in 2013? "Cool Runnings" is a classic -- and a great costume idea -- no need to cross the line.
