The Orange County Black Solidarity Network (OCBSN)—a coalition of local organizations committed to confronting anti-Black hate and advancing racial equity—strongly condemns the use of a racial slur during a recent Capistrano Unified School District board meeting by Trustee Judy Bullockus.
Though Bullockus has since issued an apology, it falls far short of what this moment calls for. Her words were not just an unfortunate choice—they reflect a deeper, long-standing pattern of racial insensitivity and systemic exclusion that continues to harm Black students, families, and educators in Orange County. An apology, absent of true accountability and a willingness to engage in repair, is not leadership. It is damage control.
Let’s be clear: when a school board trustee casually repeats a slur that has been used for centuries to dehumanize Black people—even under the guise of quoting someone else—it reinforces and normalizes the very systems of racism we’ve fought so hard to dismantle. The power dynamics at play matter. Bullockus holds a position of authority, influence, and trust. Her words carry weight, particularly in spaces meant to uplift and protect all students…