California School Expunges Suspension of Student Accused of Wearing Blackface

The San Diego middle school student claimed he was wearing sports eye black, not blackface, leading to a legal settlement and record clearance.

A San Diego middle school student was suspended in October 2023 for allegedly wearing blackface at a football game, which he and his family denied.
The student argued he was wearing eye black, a common sports accessory, and filed a lawsuit against the school for false allegations of racism.
In a February 2025 settlement, the school agreed to permanently expunge the suspension from the student’s record and bar officials from referencing the incident.
The student’s lawyer highlighted the potential long-term harm the false allegations could have caused to his education and career opportunities.
The settlement was seen as a victory by the student’s family, who maintained the accusations were baseless and unjust.