Blackface performance in Oak Forest prompts rebuke from city, park district

Some people in a performance at a suburban picnic last month wore blackface, sparking backlash from municipal officials and the park district.

At the picnic at the Zespol Wanta and Mloda Wanta Piknik hosted at a Missionary Sisters of St. Benedict space in Oak Forest on July 21, people performed a dance to a song from the movie "Sister Act," and a woman dressed in a nun costume with dark streaks on her face was seen high-fiving a man who also appears to be wearing blackface, according to videos from the event and people who attended.

Magda Purkała, a woman who said she attended the event with her children, told CBS News she was "disgusted and appalled" when the host of the event told the audience there were "special guests from Africa" coming onstage. The "guests" were the people in blackface and dressed in "stereotypical caricature" costumes, she said.

"I do not understand how anyone thinks blackface in 2025 is appropriate," she told CBS. "It's racism, plain and simple. Shame on those who approved the performance."

The city of Oak Forest said the picnic was a permitted event but not city-sponsored.

"This incredibly insensitive performance does not reflect the values, beliefs or ideals of our community," the city said in a Facebook post.

The Oak Forest Park District, which wasn't affiliated with the event, responded similarly, condemning "discrimination in any form."

"The Oak Forest Park District is dedicated to providing equitable recreational opportunities that are welcoming, accessible, and inclusive for individuals of all ages, abilities, and backgrounds," the park district said in a statement on Facebook. "We strive to foster a community environment where every participant feels respected, valued, and safe regardless of race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, or any other personal characteristic."

Zespol Góralski Wanta - Młode Pokolenie, the group that hosted the event, and the Missionary Sisters of St. Benedict could not be reached for comment.