Student's MLK Tribute Sparks Controversy - Community News Story - KRDO Colorado Springs (http://www.krdo.com/community/31073392/detail.html)

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. -- A second-grader at Meridian Ranch Elementary school in Colorado Springs was pulled out of class on Wednesday for painting his face black.

Sean King dressed up as Martin Luther King, Jr. for a class project.

“It was wax museum day for the second-graders and each one dressed up as a historical figure they were assigned,” said Sean’s mother, Michelle King-Roca.

King-Roca said Sean was so excited for the project.

“He said, 'Mom, I want to wear a black suit because that’s what he wore, a black tie, a white shirt and also I want to do my face black and wear a mustache,” said King-Roca.

Sean’s parents came with him to school, as did the other second grade parents, to watch the presentations.

“Right before it was time to come in (to the classroom), the principal came up and stated he (Sean) was to take the face mask off. There was a person in the faculty that had an issue with it,” said King-Roca.

King-Roca said she and her husband, Anthony, were stunned and shocked.

Looks more like an extremely bad impersonation of Groucho Marx.

and another innocent little kid is taught about racism

I like that kid; he's smart. A lot of people should learn what boundaries are - in this case, that applying blackface is not necessarily racist.