My son 6 years old told his skin colour sucks. He is black in a school that is 99% white.
by Makusa
(Australia)
My son is the only black kid in his class. He was in Africa the first four years of his life. Now we relocated and he is in a school of over 600kids, with about 5 being black, a few Asians and other kids of other origins who in total make less than 5% of the school population. Twice he has been told by his classmates that his skin colour sucks. The teacher ignored the first time it happened and I also decided to let it pass so that I dont make a mountain out of a molehill. This week again my son was told his skin colour sucks. Parents out there, what should I do? If I do nothing, my son will believe its ok to be told his skin colour sucks and it might affect his self esteem. He has a right to feel safe and comfortable in his own skin.
Comments for
My son 6 years old told his skin colour sucks. He is black in a school that is 99% white.
Makusa, Some time now has gone by since you reported this problem in the Forum, but this may still be relevant: How sad to hear that your lovely boy is treated this way. And nothing will change at that school by the sound of things,unless you take real action. See the teacher again, but have a plan ready if there is no concern shown, something like this may work: say: (very calmly, with a smile)'Well I can see that you don't really care for the welfare of your students, which leaves me no option but to take it to the school board, because discrimination and harassment is something that should be actively discouraged by any teacher -worthy of the name teacher!' Take it from there, my bet she'll change her attitude towards you, if she does, ask her what plan she has to remedy the situation. Tell your fantastic boy, that he is beautiful, and I must admit that I think these dark skinned kids are so fabulous-well actually, all kids are, provided they have parents instilling good values into them. All the best, B.
Dec 11, 2010
Goes Both Ways! by: Alicia
My family recently had to move into my Fathers home in Florida, due to the economy. My Fathers home is located in a neighborhood that is predominantly black, we are white(Hispanic). We enrolled our son in the school designated for our neighborhood, which is also predominately black...99%. Although he is only ten, he has been on mission trips to West Virginia to take food and clothes to homeless children, he has volunteered at a school for autistic children by reading to them. We did not anticipate any problems because our son was never taught to hate anyone, especially because of differences. He started school three months ago, in this short time he has been selected for safety patrol, once selected he insisted on being at school 55 minutes early so that he could give extra help to the handi-capped children arriving on the buses in the morning, because none of the other children would take on this duty, he has since been selected to be the Captain of the patrols, his Teachers have commented on his report card that he exhibits characteristics of an exceptional student...in spite of this, I have had to take my son to the emergency room with a fractured thumb, that none of the P.E. staff could explain what happened during "flag football", other children have called him a freak because he has blue eyes, he has been surrounded by several children while they rub his skin and hair, he has been isolated and excluded from ALL free time play by the other children finally escalating into threats and violence because his classmates are unable too accept a child that is different. Finally, my ten year old son came home and stated "He can't take it anymore, he said he doesnt care if people dont like him for what he does, but cannot accept being disliked for how he looks." I spoke to his Teacher, the Guidance Counselor, the Principal, the District, sadly it just doesnt seem to be unacceptable for a white child to be bullied by black children...I guess he deserves it? I have removed my child from the school and now home school him. I pray my child has not learned too hate.
Apr 08, 2010
Continued from previous comment by: Teeta
contd from previous:
If you complain and they don't help and take care of the issue, go to your district office and ask for the form to fill out a formal complaint against the school and teacher(s) in question, then watch them perk up! Here is the info I found for you:
"For Complaints regarding Bullying, based on protected classes (such as race, sex, religion and sexual orientation) and other acts of bias and discrimination, please contact:
William A. Howe, Ed.D. State Title IX Coordinator/Civil Rights Compliance CT State Department of Education Bureau of Accountability & Improvement 165 Capitol Avenue, Room 221 Hartford, CT 06106 william.howe@ct.gov Phone: (860) 713-6752 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting (860) 713-6752 end_of_the_skype_highlighting Fax: (860) 713-7035 " Found at: http://www.sde.ct.gov/sde/cwp/view.asp?a=2700&Q=322402&pp=12&n=1 Good luck mom! Your little guy needs to know he is okay and his skin color is beautiful just like him. Tell him to tell these bullies "If dark skin is so ugly then why is it that so many light skinned people spend millions in tanning booths and on tanning lotions, etc, to make it more like mine?" Tee Hee! That will show them. I am so white I am pink! But you know what, that is my beauty that God blessed me with and his dark skin is the beauty that God blessed him with! Good luck and please keep us informed on here. Sincerely, Mamatotwoboys
Apr 08, 2010
Absolutely! by: Teeta
Bless his little heart! I am so disgusted with this country right now anyway. A great many Americans are showing exactly why so many around the globe despise us. We are supposedly the most advanced, educated, leader of the free world! Yet now, after the majority of voting Americans spoke and showed the world our evolvement, intelligence, and respectability by electing the best man for the job of Commander in Chief, (no matter the color of his skin)the minority of racist, redneck, lower forms of intelligence that call themselves human beings are throwing up such a performance with their tea parties and demonstrations that America again looks like the most under-evolved, intolerant joke on the face of the earth. These people spewing their hate and vitriol are teaching their children this filth. (Sorry about the tangent there) And sorry this is so long winded but this subject deserves meaningful conversation by us all. I would NOT let this pass. Your son has a right to respect, to understanding, tolerance, kindness, compassion and to knowing that he is safe. Your protecting your child right now is what he needs most. He is still young enough that to not go to bat for him, might just leave him feeling scare, abandoned and confused. Trust me honey, this IS a mountain and if we don't all work together to stop it in our youth it is going to turn into a huge volcano that is going to one day erupt and destroy a lot of people. I feel for you. This is bullying as well, straight up, textbook bullying, and while there might be laws against discrimination and racism, you would be hard pressed to prove that at this age. Bullying however also has laws and they MUST be enforced or the school could lose funding. This message will be continued in the next comment section.
