Getty Apologizes for Docent-Related Incident

Getty Center officials apologized Monday for an incident in which a volunteer tour guide at the art museum last month rubbed two black students’ heads and, in a discussion about textures, described their hair as rough.

Parents and teachers said the students, who were on a field trip to the Brentwood center, thought that they were being ridiculed and that the docent was invoking racial stereotypes.

Referring to the incident as “unfortunate and unintentional,” Getty officials pledged to provide more sensitivity training for staff.

On Monday, museum officials met with representatives of the Los Angeles Unified School District and teachers, parents and activists.

During the June 18 field trip, the docent was explaining smooth and rough textures in stonework and other materials when she touched the youngsters’ hair, said fourth-grade teacher Talibah Shakir, who was with her students from 54th Street Elementary School.

“She started talking about smooth and rough textures and she grabbed the head of one of my black boy students and rubbed his head and said ‘This is rough,’ ” Shakir said. “The kids were in shock. It was like she had just ripped out their spirits.”

The guide did it again with another child, the teacher said.

Getty spokeswoman Maureen McGlynn refused to identify the docent or discuss her role at the museum. Shakir and others, who said they were told that the woman still conducts tours, are asking the museum to reprimand or remove the guide.

“We listened to Getty Museum officials say ‘we apologize, we apologize,’ ” said Maryalice Jones, western regional director of the Congress of Racial Equality. “How do you expect me to accept your apology when you haven’t done anything to rectify the situation?”