It’s too early for this! It’s Monday! We’re all still rolling out of bed and trying to find a cab home getting coffee and an Eggo waffle! Why do these things have to pop up on my news feed before I’ve put my contacts in?!! Oh well. Time and weird racism stories wait for no one. So let’s talk.

8-year-old Sean King from Colorado Springs was assigned Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. for a report for class. As a pale kid, he (or his parents, I’m assuming his parents), decided to go the whole nine yards and paint his face with dark makeup, or what is historically known as “blackface.” In his interview with the local news channel, Sean claims he wasn’t trying to “insult” anyone, and he “likes black people” and “it was just a costume,” but the school officials disagreed, sending him home and suspending him from class.

So this is a tough one, but what do you think? Is it racist?

In my opinion, there are a few questions to be asked. First of all, was part of the assignment to dress up as the historical figure? If so, perhaps the responsibility lies with the TEACHER to discuss the possible ways to dress as MLK Jr. without being offensive. Second, are Sean King’s parent’s oblivious? Because in a day and age where people get offended by Hallmark cards, maybe they shouldn’t send their kid to school in BLACK FACE, a historically offensive activity dating back to the 1800s. And lastly, why are they interviewing a child, who is clearly reciting a script written by his oblivious parents on the news(“they learned something when I walked into that office,” ARE YOU KIDDING ME?)? Isn’t there a cat fashion show to attend?!

Whether or not the school, or Sean’s parents, suffer any repercussions from this debacle, we’re sure the city of Colorado Springs will be talking about it for weeks to come. Just like I won’t be able to stop thinking about Sean and his dad’s matching creep ponytails.

But tell me, folks. What do you think? IS IT RACIST?