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

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I feel bad for both kids involved, honestly. I feel bad for Dyson's grandson for having to be on the receiving end of the comment (regardless of whether it involved only a threat or also the N word), and for having a bunch of media attention focused on him. I feel bad for the other kid, because as a 6 year old, he likely had no idea of the gravity of what he said (regardless of whether it involved only a threat or also the N word), and for having a bunch of negative media attention focused on him.

Agreed

[Anonymous]

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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.

This is not the case at Mann. In fact, this very topic was discussed during the March PTA meeting. The school talked about what happened elsewhere, the training and steps they've already taken in preparation for something similar happening at Mann, and what Mann would do when/if such an incident occurs. It was known by all that Mann would communicate to the entire school population immediately upon an incident, which the principal did within the day.

It sounds like the school was prepared and did everything right. I think it's super weird to tweet on the way to a disciplinary meeting where facts are about to be established. If I were the other parents, I would be annoyed by that violation.

I wonder if they have grounds for lawsuits.

If the parents even think about suing Dyson, he will destroy them in the court of public opinion. He has a much larger platform than the parents. Plus, the racial dynamics and optics involved.

There’s no cause of action. He’s behaving perfectly appropriately as an advocate.

It is astounding that you think so. Do you have kids?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I feel bad for both kids involved, honestly. I feel bad for Dyson's grandson for having to be on the receiving end of the comment (regardless of whether it involved only a threat or also the N word), and for having a bunch of media attention focused on him. I feel bad for the other kid, because as a 6 year old, he likely had no idea of the gravity of what he said (regardless of whether it involved only a threat or also the N word), and for having a bunch of negative media attention focused on him.

Agreed

Well, Dyson took it "next level" by blowing it up in the media. Should he apologize for the stress he's brought on the young ones?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

This is not the case at Mann. In fact, this very topic was discussed during the March PTA meeting. The school talked about what happened elsewhere, the training and steps they've already taken in preparation for something similar happening at Mann, and what Mann would do when/if such an incident occurs. It was known by all that Mann would communicate to the entire school population immediately upon an incident, which the principal did within the day.

It sounds like the school was prepared and did everything right. I think it's super weird to tweet on the way to a disciplinary meeting where facts are about to be established. If I were the other parents, I would be annoyed by that violation.

I wonder if they have grounds for lawsuits.

If the parents even think about suing Dyson, he will destroy them in the court of public opinion. He has a much larger platform than the parents. Plus, the racial dynamics and optics involved.

There’s no cause of action. He’s behaving perfectly appropriately as an advocate.

It is astounding that you think so. Do you have kids?

DP. I have kids and I agree with PP.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

This is not the case at Mann. In fact, this very topic was discussed during the March PTA meeting. The school talked about what happened elsewhere, the training and steps they've already taken in preparation for something similar happening at Mann, and what Mann would do when/if such an incident occurs. It was known by all that Mann would communicate to the entire school population immediately upon an incident, which the principal did within the day.

It sounds like the school was prepared and did everything right. I think it's super weird to tweet on the way to a disciplinary meeting where facts are about to be established. If I were the other parents, I would be annoyed by that violation.

I wonder if they have grounds for lawsuits.

If the parents even think about suing Dyson, he will destroy them in the court of public opinion. He has a much larger platform than the parents. Plus, the racial dynamics and optics involved.

There’s no cause of action. He’s behaving perfectly appropriately as an advocate.

It is astounding that you think so. Do you have kids?

Yup. Parents and grandparents when necessary need to speak up.

[Anonymous]

Posting to Twitter before even going to the school, and going to the media before the meeting of all parties is not advocacy, it’s grandstanding.

I infer that Dyson’s goal is to help set an example that people should advocate strongly for their kids, but the impact to other people—including his own young grandson—is unfair.

[Anonymous]

In the end, it’s a shame these things were said to begin with. Kids clearly pick up what is said/going on with adults.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Posting to Twitter before even going to the school, and going to the media before the meeting of all parties is not advocacy, it’s grandstanding.

I infer that Dyson’s goal is to help set an example that people should advocate strongly for their kids, but the impact to other people—including his own young grandson—is unfair.

+1 I think his reaction was inflammatory and irresponsible. If the school ignored the incident or handled it poorly, that would be one thing--then some public attention might be useful. But, especially as we are talking about children, I would wait to get more information, find out what the school intends to do, etc., before blowing it up publicly.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I feel bad for both kids involved, honestly. I feel bad for Dyson's grandson for having to be on the receiving end of the comment (regardless of whether it involved only a threat or also the N word), and for having a bunch of media attention focused on him. I feel bad for the other kid, because as a 6 year old, he likely had no idea of the gravity of what he said (regardless of whether it involved only a threat or also the N word), and for having a bunch of negative media attention focused on him.

Agreed

Well, Dyson took it "next level" by blowing it up in the media. Should he apologize for the stress he's brought on the young ones?

He should be sued.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Posting to Twitter before even going to the school, and going to the media before the meeting of all parties is not advocacy, it’s grandstanding.

I infer that Dyson’s goal is to help set an example that people should advocate strongly for their kids, but the impact to other people—including his own young grandson—is unfair.

It's worse than grandstanding -- it's public and unfair lynching of a minor and his family.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:In the end, it’s a shame these things were said to begin with. Kids clearly pick up what is said/going on with adults.

Not only adults, but from older kids. My kid is First Grader at Mann and started saying things he never heard from me or other adults. He is learning it from his classmates and older / other kids at aftercare.

[Anonymous]

I'm a three-peat parent at Mann and can say that "if" it happened, it's beyond an anomaly at the school. Kids say and do stupid things and we call them (or at least, used to call them) teachable moments. The principal is without peer in the DC school system. She imbues a culture of empathy, honesty, accountability, collaboration, and more by staff and students.

Yeah, I'm biased and impartial, all due to experience of my three children.

[Anonymous]

If they have older siblings at Hardy, then they'll be hearing everything, including the n-word, unfortunately. The main problem is that these kids need to be told at HOME that some words should never be said by those who are not members of the protected group.

Of course, we don't really know if the word was ACTUALLY used at Mann, but as usual, a situation like this can be used as an educational opportunity for all of these kids. They need to know what's acceptable, and what's not. Also unfortunately, the chance for education is made more difficult if CNN is camped out at the school.

[Anonymous]

Dyson's tweets on the day of the incident:

Michael Eric Dyson
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@MichaelEDyson
Apr 30
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Why am I heading to my 6 year-old grandson’s elementary school in affluent neighborhood in DC because a white kid called him a “ni[redacted]er” & threatened to go get a gun & shoot him??? The kid not yet kicked out nor the police called ??? Welcome again to Trump’s white racist America.

Michael Eric Dyson
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@MichaelEDyson
Apr 30
More Michael Eric Dyson Retweeted Lindsay Watts
This is a small part of the story of how my grandson, a student at DC’s Horace Mann School, was called “ni[redacted]er” and threatened by a kid who said he would go home & get his father’s gun & return $ shoot him. This is heinous; this vitriol seeps inside the psyches of young whites. [LINK TO VIDEO INTERVIEW OF HIS FAMILY ABOUT INCIDENT]

Michael Eric Dyson
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Apr 30
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Here’s the story of how my precious 6 year-old grandson was racially harassed and threatened with violence at Horace Mann school in an affluent DC neighborhood. “Michael Eric Dyson says his 6-year-old grandson was called N-word, threatened at DC school [LINK TO VIDEO INTERVIEW OF HIS FAMILY ABOUT INCIDENT]

[Anonymous]

Dyson tweets the next day:

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23h23 hours ago
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An update on the situation with my grandson who was threatened with an act of violence and a racial epithet. We — his parents, grandparents, the other child’s parents, school principal, teacher, Superintendent for Instruction, and the police — had a meeting that just ended. (1)

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@MichaelEDyson
23h23 hours ago
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The parents and grandparents laid out in no uncertain terms the stakes of the situation — the physical and racial aggression, the individual and institutional culpability, the personal and existential consequences of such a threat to our beloved (grand)son, the responsibility (2)

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23h23 hours ago
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of the school (system) to address such incidents, mechanisms that need to be in place to grapple with such incidents, a culture of white privilege and indifference to the harm of our children of color, and so on — and the administrators were thankfully in no way defensive (3)

Michael Eric Dyson
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23h23 hours ago
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but offered constructive recommendations to right the situation and address the broader implications of racial hostility and violence throughout the school (system). The parents of the offending child were visibly crushed by their child’s actions, owned up to the horror of (4)

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23h23 hours ago
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what had occurred, pledged to further address their child’s behavior, and to make things right as much as they could. The outcome appears to be a good one for my terrified and vulnerable grandson. But what about all those parents of color who don’t have the resources or (5)

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platform to advocate for their children who are similarly treated?
Or for other parents who simply lack the outlets to articulate their grievances or concerns? Please send me your stories, hurts, traumas and concerns — or your stories of overcoming and successfully (6)

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negotiating such egregious circumstances. I am here for you.