Anaheim High School Gets the #NoMames for “Señores and Señoritas” Event

Aug 23, 2012
9:25 PM

This one gets a major #NoMames.

CREDIT: http://instagram.com/p/LjJMsep9IR

Here's the scoop from KTLA:

An Orange County high school has pulled the plug on its 'Señores and Señoritas' theme day, after some complained that it was demeaning to Latino culture.

The event has been taking place during senior week at Canyon High School every June for the past three years. P

pictures from last year's event show students wearing sombreros and fake mustaches. Others dressed up as border patrol agents arresting kids dressed as illegal immigrants.

Some students came as gang members, sporting bandanas and tear drop tattoos on their faces. There were also students dressed as gardeners, and even one girl who dressed as a pregnant woman pushing a baby stroller.

The LA Times also covered the story and it reported the following:

"Seniores [sic]" and "Señoritas" events held at an Anaheim high school — in which students dressed as gang members and a pregnant female pushing a baby stroller — have been canceled after officials concluded that the activities were demeaning toward Latinos and their culture.

The events, which have been held for at least the last three years at Canyon High School, took place during senior activity week in June and were approved by campus administrators, according to school district officials.

The event was canceled after the Orange Unified School District launched an internal investigation in June in response to two complaints filed by former students.

"I conclude there was a lack of oversight/supervision and that the school administration should not have allowed this activity," Aileen M. Sterling, executive director of secondary education for the district, wrote in an Aug. 10 letter summarizing her probe. "Even if strict guidelines were provided," Sterling said, "the result would still lead to hurtful and demeaning messages about the Mexican culture and to the students of the Mexican, Hispanic and Latino descent."

Now, those who have no clue will just tell us that this is all about "kids being kids," but there is comedy and there is just straight out ignorant racism. Add to the fact that this happened in Anaheim (of all places) and you are just left to wonder: how much have we really progressed? #NoMames, indeed, and as for those who find that this is all a joke and this is all about your getting media attention (yup, you @elias824), a double dose of #NoMames.