Univ. of Oregon law professor put on leave for blackface costume is former diversity committee chair

[femmedem]

2. It seems she was trying to bring attention to the lack of black students in medical school

and talk about race and medicine.

From the story:

"...She appeared to have told students her costume was based on "Black Man in a White Coat: A Doctor's Reflections on Race and Medicine." The memoir tells the story of Dr. Damon Tweedy, a black doctor, and his reflections on race and medicine.

In her apology, according to the TV station, Shurtz said her daughter is a medical school student and didn't have any black male students in her class. "She and others were outraged," Shurtz wrote, according to the KEZI account. Her daughter then was able to get a portion of Tweedy's book assigned as reading.

Shurtz said she thought she would "be able to teach with this costume as well (or at least tell an interesting story)," according to the KEZI story..."

It's easy to jump to judgment and condemnation. But I think this situation is more complex than it appears from the headline.