Anti-Black racism such as name calling, the pervasive use of the N-word, and the inability of teachers to handle racist incidents when they happen are among the findings from a research project Black high school students in Lompoc will share with the Lompoc Unified School District, 5-7 p.m. Monday, May 13.

Poster for Lompoc Student Photo Voice Presentation shows three Black people holding hands and walking on a sandy surface.

UCSB Assistant Professor Hui-Ling Malone, from the Gevirtz Graduate School of Education, and students will present research findings on the Advocacy for Black High School Students’ Social Emotional and Academic Needs in Lompoc project, a collaboration with the NAACP Santa Maria/Lompoc chapter and Black students from Lompoc High and Cabrillo High.

This study was initiated after an uptick of anti-Black racist incidents involving school-aged youth were reported to the NAACP.

“Using our voice through photos,” the students will present the research to the School Board at 5 p.m. at the Lompoc Unified School District office, 1301 North A St.

They will also highlight some positive experiences such as supportive teachers, resources for college and being in community with each other.

Financed by The Fund for Santa Barbara and the McCune Foundation, the community-based participatory action research project is a partnership between UCSB’s Gevirtz School of Education, the Santa Maria-Lompoc NAACP and Lompoc Unified School District.