Son was called a monkey by a Hispanic child

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m not sure how to say this in an inoffensive way but I’ll try . . .

It could very well be a cultural thing without any ill intent. Latinos simply do not have the same, shall we say, sensitivities when it comes to these kinds of things. They will refer to others in Spanish by references to race, weight, and other physical attributes and mean nothing of it. If your eyes are even slightly slanted, for example, your nickname will often be “Chino.” I could go on.

All I’m saying is that you really shouldn’t place much stock in what a 9 or 10 year old Salvadoran kid might say. It’s just a different way of thinking than native born Americans are accustomed to.

So by your account the El Salvadorian soccer fans who taunted the opposing team by calling them monkeys and negros had “no ill intent”? FIFA would beg to differ.

https://ticotimes.net/2025/09/12/fifa-probes-el-salvador-over-fan-racism-in-suriname-world-cup-qualifier

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Op here - I’m just collecting advice - this all came up because I was listening to
npr in the background and they were covering the Kansas young republicans and they mentioned that one person referred to black people as monkeys. My son goes “‘ mom xyz called me a monkey”. I said “ really? What do you do?” He goes “ nothing. I just ignored him”

The lesson is that "people of color", that is, descendants of recent immigrants from non-white countries, do not have a natural affinity to African Americans, despite popular rhetoric. They are only "of color" when convenient, but otherwise, seeking white-adjacency.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Op here - I’m just collecting advice - this all came up because I was listening to
npr in the background and they were covering the Kansas young republicans and they mentioned that one person referred to black people as monkeys. My son goes “‘ mom xyz called me a monkey”. I said “ really? What do you do?” He goes “ nothing. I just ignored him”

Here’s a blog post that I just dug up that touches on this issue and that you might find helpful. Be warned in advance that the author (who is African American) makes reference to the “n” word in it.

https://www.oneikathetraveller.com/when-he-called-me-negrita.html

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m not sure how to say this in an inoffensive way but I’ll try . . .

It could very well be a cultural thing without any ill intent. Latinos simply do not have the same, shall we say, sensitivities when it comes to these kinds of things. They will refer to others in Spanish by references to race, weight, and other physical attributes and mean nothing of it. If your eyes are even slightly slanted, for example, your nickname will often be “Chino.” I could go on.

All I’m saying is that you really shouldn’t place much stock in what a 9 or 10 year old Salvadoran kid might say. It’s just a different way of thinking than native born Americans are accustomed to.

So by your account the El Salvadorian soccer fans who taunted the opposing team by calling them monkeys and negros had “no ill intent”? FIFA would beg to differ.

https://ticotimes.net/2025/09/12/fifa-probes-el-salvador-over-fan-racism-in-suriname-world-cup-qualifier

No, the PP is letting us know that is just "their way of thinking", it's part of their culture, and we have to accept it (I don't know why we have to accept it, it would be nice if she could explain...)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Op here - I’m just collecting advice - this all came up because I was listening to
npr in the background and they were covering the Kansas young republicans and they mentioned that one person referred to black people as monkeys. My son goes “‘ mom xyz called me a monkey”. I said “ really? What do you do?” He goes “ nothing. I just ignored him”

Here’s a blog post that I just dug up that touches on this issue and that you might find helpful. Be warned in advance that the author (who is African American) makes reference to the “n” word in it.

https://www.oneikathetraveller.com/when-he-called-me-negrita.html

Read the article..."monkey" does not fall into this category. In any event, if the U.S. is becoming a latin American country, I want out. I am (a black person) obviously am not seen as worthy in this cuture.

[Anonymous]

[list]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m not sure how to say this in an inoffensive way but I’ll try . . .

It could very well be a cultural thing without any ill intent. Latinos simply do not have the same, shall we say, sensitivities when it comes to these kinds of things. They will refer to others in Spanish by references to race, weight, and other physical attributes and mean nothing of it. If your eyes are even slightly slanted, for example, your nickname will often be “Chino.” I could go on.

All I’m saying is that you really shouldn’t place much stock in what a 9 or 10 year old Salvadoran kid might say. It’s just a different way of thinking than native born Americans are accustomed to.

Yes, imported racism and colorism? Why does that fact that a Latino is being racist make it ok, just because as you say, it is part of their culture?

I’m not going to argue with you about this. I’m merely stating a fact about Latino culture from someone who knows it well. My point stands: there’s a different level of sensitivity in Latino culture when it comes to these things, and it doesn’t necessarily mean it’s a more racist or colorist culture in the pejorative sense.

I am not asking you to argue, I am informing you and others. Just because a group chuckles at casual racism doesn't mean that what it happening is not racism and harmful. "Everyone does it" and "It is a part of our culture" is not a defense.

You just don’t get it. For starters, there’s rarely “chuckling” involved. It’s not really meant to be funny.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:[list]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m not sure how to say this in an inoffensive way but I’ll try . . .

It could very well be a cultural thing without any ill intent. Latinos simply do not have the same, shall we say, sensitivities when it comes to these kinds of things. They will refer to others in Spanish by references to race, weight, and other physical attributes and mean nothing of it. If your eyes are even slightly slanted, for example, your nickname will often be “Chino.” I could go on.

All I’m saying is that you really shouldn’t place much stock in what a 9 or 10 year old Salvadoran kid might say. It’s just a different way of thinking than native born Americans are accustomed to.

Yes, imported racism and colorism? Why does that fact that a Latino is being racist make it ok, just because as you say, it is part of their culture?

I’m not going to argue with you about this. I’m merely stating a fact about Latino culture from someone who knows it well. My point stands: there’s a different level of sensitivity in Latino culture when it comes to these things, and it doesn’t necessarily mean it’s a more racist or colorist culture in the pejorative sense.

I am not asking you to argue, I am informing you and others. Just because a group chuckles at casual racism doesn't mean that what it happening is not racism and harmful. "Everyone does it" and "It is a part of our culture" is not a defense.

You just don’t get it. For starters, there’s rarely “chuckling” involved. It’s not really meant to be funny.

No, your argument of well this is just what hispanics do, it's part of their culture, and we just have to accept it, is offensive. Just because Hispanics are becoming a significant majority, doesn't mean that we have to just say ok to all parts of hispanic culture.

[Anonymous]

Report.

[Anonymous]

I’d tell the teacher. She will know if it needs to be a learning moment for the student or if it’s part of a larger issue.

I would also give your son pointers on what he should say when someone says something racist to him. When others are called out on racist often it can get them to stop. Sometimes they don’t know, sometimes it was a stupid way of trying to be funny and sometimes they’re just aholes.

[Anonymous]

Just so you know, OP, racism is rampant among non-white, non-educated and politically-correct groups in the US and Europe. Most populations in the world are much more open about colorism than our little liberal enclaves.

This kid is repeating what he's heard from others in his family, without particularly hating your child. You should file a bullying report and flag the comment as racist, because the teacher/counselor absolutely needs to teach this kid to NOT say these things. He's not going to learn it at home, so he needs to learn it at school.

Making a formal complaint will be doing both kids a favor, OP.

[Anonymous]

Look, I’m not saying it’s great for a Latino kid to call a black kid a monkey. I just wouldn’t jump to the conclusion that the kid meant it in an insulting or racist way. There’s a real possibility—a likelihood, in fact—that the kid didn’t make any connection between “monkey”
and OP’s son’s race.

I’m just not ready to crucify a 9 year old from a different culture over this. My suggestion would be to explain to your son that his friend likely doesn’t know any better and encourage him to talk to his friend about it directly. I don’t think a teacher needs to be involved.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Just so you know, OP, racism is rampant among non-white, non-educated and politically-correct groups in the US and Europe. Most populations in the world are much more open about colorism than our little liberal enclaves.

This kid is repeating what he's heard from others in his family, without particularly hating your child. You should file a bullying report and flag the comment as racist, because the teacher/counselor absolutely needs to teach this kid to NOT say these things. He's not going to learn it at home, so he needs to learn it at school.

Making a formal complaint will be doing both kids a favor, OP.

+1

With the exponential increase in immigration over the past two decades or so and especially within the past 4 years, this is something African Americans will need to be prepared to encounter everyday.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Op here - I’m just collecting advice - this all came up because I was listening to
npr in the background and they were covering the Kansas young republicans and they mentioned that one person referred to black people as monkeys. My son goes “‘ mom xyz called me a monkey”. I said “ really? What do you do?” He goes “ nothing. I just ignored him”

Here’s a blog post that I just dug up that touches on this issue and that you might find helpful. Be warned in advance that the author (who is African American) makes reference to the “n” word in it.

https://www.oneikathetraveller.com/when-he-called-me-negrita.html

Read the article..."monkey" does not fall into this category. In any event, if the U.S. is becoming a latin American country, I want out. I am (a black person) obviously am not seen as worthy in this cuture.

There are A LOT of black Hispanics. Don’t throw out central and South America based on one kid. I have heard racist things against African Americans from new African immigrants who are the same race.

But I agree, as new immigrants arrive, tolerance is needed to be taught.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Look, I’m not saying it’s great for a Latino kid to call a black kid a monkey. I just wouldn’t jump to the conclusion that the kid meant it in an insulting or racist way. There’s a real possibility—a likelihood, in fact—that the kid didn’t make any connection between “monkey”
and OP’s son’s race.

I’m just not ready to crucify a 9 year old from a different culture over this. My suggestion would be to explain to your son that his friend likely doesn’t know any better and encourage him to talk to his friend about it directly. I don’t think a teacher needs to be involved.

Maybe the "cuture" the kid is coming from is the issue?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:[list]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m not sure how to say this in an inoffensive way but I’ll try . . .

It could very well be a cultural thing without any ill intent. Latinos simply do not have the same, shall we say, sensitivities when it comes to these kinds of things. They will refer to others in Spanish by references to race, weight, and other physical attributes and mean nothing of it. If your eyes are even slightly slanted, for example, your nickname will often be “Chino.” I could go on.

All I’m saying is that you really shouldn’t place much stock in what a 9 or 10 year old Salvadoran kid might say. It’s just a different way of thinking than native born Americans are accustomed to.

Yes, imported racism and colorism? Why does that fact that a Latino is being racist make it ok, just because as you say, it is part of their culture?

I’m not going to argue with you about this. I’m merely stating a fact about Latino culture from someone who knows it well. My point stands: there’s a different level of sensitivity in Latino culture when it comes to these things, and it doesn’t necessarily mean it’s a more racist or colorist culture in the pejorative sense.

I am not asking you to argue, I am informing you and others. Just because a group chuckles at casual racism doesn't mean that what it happening is not racism and harmful. "Everyone does it" and "It is a part of our culture" is not a defense.

You just don’t get it. For starters, there’s rarely “chuckling” involved. It’s not really meant to be funny.

No, your argument of well this is just what hispanics do, it's part of their culture, and we just have to accept it, is offensive. Just because Hispanics are becoming a significant majority, doesn't mean that we have to just say ok to all parts of hispanic culture.

You’re missing the point again. I’m not saying that we should just accept it because it’s what they do. I’m saying that because it’s what’s they do that you shouldn’t immediately get all up in arms about it and assume bad intent. There’s a difference.