Wash Post: Michael Eric Dyson reports 6 yo grandson called a racial slur at Mann

[Anonymous]

My kid is in First Grade at Mann. I cannot even imagine what kind of language is used at schools not as good as Mann (Blue Ribbon several times, 9 out of 10 on the scale), because it IS a great school. We moved specifically to be zoned there. My kid learns a lot of bad words from his classmates and at aftercare.....we have to keep correcting him, but it is tough. But hey, he learned the f*** word from his 7 year old cousin last year...so they teach each other....sometimes they do not even know what the word means.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Update from the superintendent includes this statement: "At this time, we cannot affirm with confidence that no racial slur was used"

So all the racists trying to sweep it under the rug can go pound sand.

At this time, we cannot affirm with confidence that no green aliens with big ears and pointy horns exist.

Exactly.

I can confirm with confidence that there is a history of racism in this country. You two ought to take a hard look in the mirror and think about who you really want to be.

Please learn some logic because jumping on your fake outrage high horse.

At this time, we cannot affirm with confidence that no poster on this thread has ever murdered a green alien with big ears and pointy horns.

[Anonymous]

I doubt most white UMC kids have ever heard the N word, let alone know what it means.

[Anonymous]

Six years old.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think this is a huge overreaction over an argument among six year olds. This should have been handled by the school and the childrens' parents.

This is not a huge overreaction. Imagine if this was your 6 year old? I would be livid. Imagine a slur that is so hurtful that it remains with you for life. This is not a small deal. I've been called racial slurs and believe me, I remember every instance. Parents need to do a better job of talking about race with their children and that this is not OK. I talk to my son often and tell him that racial slurs, hurtful language against physically disabled and others are things that I will not tolerate. Don't sweep this under the rug. It needs to be discussed early and often. We are at an EOTR Title I school, and they do an excellent job of promoting cultural awareness and kindness. I have no experience with schools in the upper NW, but do they do the same? And I'm not talking about just during Black History Month but throughout the year.

Of course the schools WOTP do that too!

No, they don’t. We are in a WOTP school and I was told by the principal that she didn’t want to encourage discussions of race and tolerance at our school because the parents are her constituents and a number of them might object.

The principal of our overwhelmingly white ES said a similar thing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think this is a huge overreaction over an argument among six year olds. This should have been handled by the school and the childrens' parents.

This is not a huge overreaction. Imagine if this was your 6 year old? I would be livid. Imagine a slur that is so hurtful that it remains with you for life. This is not a small deal. I've been called racial slurs and believe me, I remember every instance. Parents need to do a better job of talking about race with their children and that this is not OK. I talk to my son often and tell him that racial slurs, hurtful language against physically disabled and others are things that I will not tolerate. Don't sweep this under the rug. It needs to be discussed early and often. We are at an EOTR Title I school, and they do an excellent job of promoting cultural awareness and kindness. I have no experience with schools in the upper NW, but do they do the same? And I'm not talking about just during Black History Month but throughout the year.

Of course the schools WOTP do that too!

No, they don’t. We are in a WOTP school and I was told by the principal that she didn’t want to encourage discussions of race and tolerance at our school because the parents are her constituents and a number of them might object.

The principal of our overwhelmingly white ES said a similar thing.

Well, our WTOP school puts a lot of emphasis on kindness, respect, and equity.

[Anonymous]

On the contrary, when they're young is the time to make the bigger splash. You know why? It's to shame and blame the parents, from whom they had to have learned these things. Families will pay attention after being raked over the coals. A mere talk with the child will do NOTHING, since it comes from the family.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I believe racism and disproportionate discipline in schools are real and present. And we should all do everything we can to correct the issues.

However, I also believe that Dyson is using a story he embellished about a fight among 6 year old boys where his grandson and another child were the initial aggressors to score political points. He isn’t helping anyone.

There are enough legitimate stories for him to tell without dragging these children into it.

Cutting a line (which is here-say) is an aggressor????

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
On the contrary, when they're young is the time to make the bigger splash. You know why? It's to shame and blame the parents, from whom they had to have learned these things. Families will pay attention after being raked over the coals. A mere talk with the child will do NOTHING, since it comes from the family.

Learned “what things”? There is no evidence that any racial slurs were said! Dyson was in such fear for the well being of his grandchild that the very first thing he did was tweet his 400k twitter followers in real time about what was going on. Huh? He must have a new book coming out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Six years old.

People keep mentioning this. What is the cutoff age where you would be offended? How did you feel when you saw the DC police handcuff the 10 year old black boy the other week? At what age would you be outraged and not insinuate it was okay because of his age?

Emmett Till was 14 when he was wrongfully accused of a non crime and lynched. Let’s put things in perspective here.

[Anonymous]

It was on NBC News right now...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I doubt most white UMC kids have ever heard the N word, let alone know what it means.

Have you been to a rap concert lately? UMC white kids are THE #1 consumer of rap and #1 attendee at concerts.

[Anonymous]

An incident similar to this happened in my child's classroom at a different school. Despite school's effort to work with the kids/families and discuss the issue, one family opted to go to the media. The media coverage did far more damage than the initial incident. Could have been a teachable moment, a learning experience but instead it becomes a circus.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:An incident similar to this happened in my child's classroom at a different school. Despite school's effort to work with the kids/families and discuss the issue, one family opted to go to the media. The media coverage did far more damage than the initial incident. Could have been a teachable moment, a learning experience but instead it becomes a circus.

People go to the media when they feel they lack agency, whether due to marginalized status, slow or unclear course of action, etc. And often, these incidents are swept under the rug or mishandled in other ways.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Six years old.

People keep mentioning this. What is the cutoff age where you would be offended? How did you feel when you saw the DC police handcuff the 10 year old black boy the other week? At what age would you be outraged and not insinuate it was okay because of his age?

Emmett Till was 14 when he was wrongfully accused of a non crime and lynched. Let’s put things in perspective here.

Yes, let's put it in perpective. A SIX year old said a taboo extremely hurtful word, and made a threat. I have a six year old, and I feel confident that I don't think he (or his classmates) should be treated like 10 or 14 year olds. Certainly the media circus is totally worthless and counterproductlve.