A California high school teacher sparked outrage by using a 'slant eyes' gesture while explaining racial stereotypes against Asians during an online class.
Nicole Burkett, a Spanish teacher and student adviser at Grant Union High School in Sacramento, was placed under investigation after a video of her making the offensive gesture went viral on TikTok.
'If your eyes go up, you're Chinese. If they go down, they're Japanese. If they're just straight, you don't know,' Burkett told students on Zoom last Thursday as she pulled her eyes up and down at the corners.
The teacher was said to be trying to explain a racist school-yard taunt called 'Chinese, Japanese, Dirty Knees', which she said was prevalent in the 80s.
As the video spread online some students came out to defend Burkett, claiming that the gesture was taken out of context, The outlet said Burkett had posted about receiving death threats on her personal Instagram page.
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Sacramento high school teacher Nicole Burkett is receiving death threats after she used 'slant eyes' while explaining racial stereotypes against Asians during an online class last week
Burkett was placed under investigation after a video of her making the offensive gesture went viral on TikTok (left and right). 'If your eyes go up, you're Chinese. If they go down, they're Japanese. If they're just straight, you don't know,' Burkett told students on Zoom last Thursday as she pulled her eyes up and down at the corners