Beloved Oak Park Teacher To Be Reinstated After Outpouring Of Support

OAK PARK, IL — After an outpouring of community support, a beloved Oak-Park-River Forest High School teacher who was suspended for sharing an image of a student in blackface will be reinstated. Anthony Clark, who posted the photo after several concerned parents came to him, was approached by the mother of the student who posted the image later that day for help discussing the issue with her son. Clark met with the mother and her son in his own home and was suspended with pay later that evening.

The controversial image was originally posted by a student to Snapchat. In it, he wore a black exfoliation mask and added the caption, "Vote me for BLU President," a reference to the school's Black Leaders Union.

Clark's suspension sent waves of outrage and support among students, parents, and community members who know him. Allies began posting pictures of themselves with Clark with the hashtag #IStandWithAnthonyClark. On Saturday, despite heavy rains, dozens of people marched to show their support for Clark and for the Black Leaders Union.

Clark confirmed his reinstatement Thursday morning and expressed gratitude for those who fought for his reinstatement and emphasized that his work for the school and community has just begun.

In a statement, Clark told Patch, "Ali once said, 'service to others is the rent you pay for room here on Earth.' There were a lot of people paying rent this past week on my behalf and I am forever in their debts. Now it’s time that we all pay rent-to-own for those children and families that deserve opportunities, love, and support in our community, but never have had ownership."

Oak Park-River Forest High School is set to hold a Community Discussion on Race in the school's auditorium on November 14.

>>Image provided by Anthony Clark