APS black student singled out to play cotton picking game

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ugh. Now on AEM you have a poster saying it’s not a cotton picking game, and a response using the hashtag whitesplaining. We can’t have a civilized conversation about this because to call it just a stupid game is being branded racist. I’m sure not going to voice my view over there. Can’t it be true that the game was racially insensitive and also be true that a demand letter for $10 million is offensive and completely disproportionate to whatever responsibility APS may have for how the child was left feeling? Asserting a claim for harm to the tune of $10 million removes any nuance from the dialogue. I was originally sympathetic to the child and was ready to hear how APS was prepared to do better going forward, but my sympathy is entirely with APS now that it’s become a blatant money grab. They don’t think they think they’re going to get this money - they’ve likely been advised to over-ask in order to extract a lucrative settlement to make the problem go away. Squeaky wheel gets the grease and all. Hopefully APS recognizes that this would open the door to other frivolous claims and will choose instead to invest in defending against this type of extortion.

This is precisely why so many of us who know what’s going on with this family, haven’t said anything. Day care families where she works, this kids teachers, etc all known for years the family lived in Maryland, but used an address of a family member in Arlington for residency purposes. (as previously mentioned even traffic citation show the mothers address in Maryland as of a few years ago). Why didn’t we report? It’s not lost on us the optics of mostly white families paying 5K a month in preschool reporting a family who just want something better for their child. I understand why they want to be in APS and yes 50, many of us joked about it, but did not care enough to turn them in. BUT now that she’s trying to sue the county that has been giving her free access to things for a years for millions, over an incident that had no intentional racial undertones and could’ve been handled differently… It’s infuriating.

I agree 100%. I’ve turned my eye to many residency cheats over the years, even when it had a detrimental effect on my classroom but this is infuriating.

It's funny how it's only infuriating when you realize she might get more money that you.
It was all ok when you can view her as a charity case and you were be a good white liberal.

I think the lawsuit is nonsense but I don't blame her for trying.

You think the lawsuit is nonsense, but you don’t blame her for trying? For trying to milk $10 million dollars out of the situation? So you’re saying it’s ok to bring a frivolous lawsuit for $10 million and clearly the rest of us are offended merely because she “might get more” than us? Got it.

+1 Frivolous lawsuits are not ok to file because they cost everyone money. It's a waste of APS' time and money and our taxes. That's why there are rules about filing frivolous lawsuits. Guiliani, anyone??

Meh, close your eyes and imagine this is your neighbor's kid who got wrong. Except of course the neighbor and her kid are white. And now image the mom telling you about the strife her little Larla endured. You would be sympathetic and you wouldn't begrudge her filing the lawsuit but you would still think it was nonsense.

Uh, no. Larla was upset about a minute to win it game and deserves 10 mill? No middle schooler wants to be picked for these kind of games because they are self-conscious, full of hormones that make them crazy, etc. my daughter came home complaining she was picked to play that I would not be surprised. But it’s not because she was mistreated.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ugh. Now on AEM you have a poster saying it’s not a cotton picking game, and a response using the hashtag whitesplaining. We can’t have a civilized conversation about this because to call it just a stupid game is being branded racist. I’m sure not going to voice my view over there. Can’t it be true that the game was racially insensitive and also be true that a demand letter for $10 million is offensive and completely disproportionate to whatever responsibility APS may have for how the child was left feeling? Asserting a claim for harm to the tune of $10 million removes any nuance from the dialogue. I was originally sympathetic to the child and was ready to hear how APS was prepared to do better going forward, but my sympathy is entirely with APS now that it’s become a blatant money grab. They don’t think they think they’re going to get this money - they’ve likely been advised to over-ask in order to extract a lucrative settlement to make the problem go away. Squeaky wheel gets the grease and all. Hopefully APS recognizes that this would open the door to other frivolous claims and will choose instead to invest in defending against this type of extortion.

This is precisely why so many of us who know what’s going on with this family, haven’t said anything. Day care families where she works, this kids teachers, etc all known for years the family lived in Maryland, but used an address of a family member in Arlington for residency purposes. (as previously mentioned even traffic citation show the mothers address in Maryland as of a few years ago). Why didn’t we report? It’s not lost on us the optics of mostly white families paying 5K a month in preschool reporting a family who just want something better for their child. I understand why they want to be in APS and yes 50, many of us joked about it, but did not care enough to turn them in. BUT now that she’s trying to sue the county that has been giving her free access to things for a years for millions, over an incident that had no intentional racial undertones and could’ve been handled differently… It’s infuriating.

I agree 100%. I’ve turned my eye to many residency cheats over the years, even when it had a detrimental effect on my classroom but this is infuriating.

It's funny how it's only infuriating when you realize she might get more money that you.
It was all ok when you can view her as a charity case and you were be a good white liberal.

I think the lawsuit is nonsense but I don't blame her for trying.

You think the lawsuit is nonsense, but you don’t blame her for trying? For trying to milk $10 million dollars out of the situation? So you’re saying it’s ok to bring a frivolous lawsuit for $10 million and clearly the rest of us are offended merely because she “might get more” than us? Got it.

+1 Frivolous lawsuits are not ok to file because they cost everyone money. It's a waste of APS' time and money and our taxes. That's why there are rules about filing frivolous lawsuits. Guiliani, anyone??

Meh, close your eyes and imagine this is your neighbor's kid who got wrong. Except of course the neighbor and her kid are white. And now image the mom telling you about the strife her little Larla endured. You would be sympathetic and you wouldn't begrudge her filing the lawsuit but you would still think it was nonsense.

Meh, think again. I have no sympathy for any frivolous lawsuits no matter who files them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:May God give me (or better yet someone else) the strength to call out the BS on AEM right now.

There's no point arguing with a person who thinks it is hurtful to black children to make "snowmen" by pasting cotton balls onto construction paper

DP. I went back and re-read the post. I think the no cotton balls at school/chalk snowman poster was being sarcastic (she used a facepalm emoji). But I’m sure there are people in that group who think cotton should be banned from schools.

I remember when I first joined I tried to engage in rationale conversation and quickly one of the totally out there posters basically implied I was racist and told me I needed to listen to a podcast. That’s when I realized the entire group is an echo chamber of a few crazies who get off on making crazy allegations against anyone who has even a moderate difference in opinion.

Yeah, no. She was serious. Look at her other posts and likes on the thread. The facepalm was to indicate her shock that people in this day and age would use cotton balls even in an art project. That poster openly solicits Simone's approval and goes overboard trying to show how progressive and anti-racist she is.

+1000

She wasn't kidding about not using the cotton balls.

I don't agree with a ban on cotton balls but I can certainly see why a teacher would not want to go there.

Really? cotton bolls, maybe, but cotton balls wouldn't even cross my mind, and I have done plenty of anti-racist training and thinking.

I also think its ridiculous because there are plenty of kids at Gunston that have been through real trauma and are likely (inadvertently) exposed to triggers at school that would never occur to anyone to be sensitive about. There are kids who were smuggled into the US or came here on foot from El Salvador to escape drug gangs, there are kids who are refugees from civil wars in Sudan and Syria, there are kids in the foster system... They are certainly not thinking about complaining or suing the school because they played "capture the flag" or "dodge ball" in gym.

Good point about the diversity at Gunston. Cotton isn't a reference that people from other countries are familiar so to them it's just a white cotton ball and nothing more.

Just as it is to people from this country today.

[Anonymous]

Procedural questions. My understanding is that the claim for $10 million came in the form of a settlement demand letter. Is a demand letter a requirement before an actual suit can be filed? Is the figure outrageously high because the aggrieved party wants this to go to trial and they’re just checking a procedural box by making this type of absurd monetary settlement demand? I’m sure APS has in-house lawyers who will recommend how to proceed, but is there any action the school board will take approving / rejecting any proposed settlement? Is this all closed door business, or will the public be made aware of how they respond to the $10 million demand or if they offer to settle for a different amount? Or if any counterclaims are asserted?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:May God give me (or better yet someone else) the strength to call out the BS on AEM right now.

There's no point arguing with a person who thinks it is hurtful to black children to make "snowmen" by pasting cotton balls onto construction paper

DP. I went back and re-read the post. I think the no cotton balls at school/chalk snowman poster was being sarcastic (she used a facepalm emoji). But I’m sure there are people in that group who think cotton should be banned from schools.

I remember when I first joined I tried to engage in rationale conversation and quickly one of the totally out there posters basically implied I was racist and told me I needed to listen to a podcast. That’s when I realized the entire group is an echo chamber of a few crazies who get off on making crazy allegations against anyone who has even a moderate difference in opinion.

Yeah, no. She was serious. Look at her other posts and likes on the thread. The facepalm was to indicate her shock that people in this day and age would use cotton balls even in an art project. That poster openly solicits Simone's approval and goes overboard trying to show how progressive and anti-racist she is.

+1000

She wasn't kidding about not using the cotton balls.

I don't agree with a ban on cotton balls but I can certainly see why a teacher would not want to go there.

Really? cotton bolls, maybe, but cotton balls wouldn't even cross my mind, and I have done plenty of anti-racist training and thinking.

I also think its ridiculous because there are plenty of kids at Gunston that have been through real trauma and are likely (inadvertently) exposed to triggers at school that would never occur to anyone to be sensitive about. There are kids who were smuggled into the US or came here on foot from El Salvador to escape drug gangs, there are kids who are refugees from civil wars in Sudan and Syria, there are kids in the foster system... They are certainly not thinking about complaining or suing the school because they played "capture the flag" or "dodge ball" in gym.

So much anti-racist training and still insensitive to the anti-Black racism systematically experienced by the descendants of black slaves in this country. SMH.
Typical white supremacist I guess.

We all get it that African Americans were unfathomably and inhumanely treated and used, etc etc etc. And we get that effects of slavery have endured. However, if an AA person today who is now generations removed from actual enslavement is truly "traumatized" by cotton balls, that person has other issues they need to address with a mental health professional. Resent history - and those to blame - all you want, rightfully so. But don't expect everyone to placate you with any and every possible six-degrees-of-separation you want to make with real trauma that never actually happened to you or your parents or likely your grandparents at this point. Stop diminishing the meaning of "trauma" and brutalizations and horrific situations that others are actually directly experiencing today. Am I to believe this kid would experience PTSD-like reactions at the sound of a horse whip? Something he's probably never once heard in his life?

Black kids know the history of what happened to their ancestors and yes the are still being traumatized through the current systemic racism and and white supremacy.
Admit it many white supremacist enjoy seeing Blacks victimized.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:May God give me (or better yet someone else) the strength to call out the BS on AEM right now.

There's no point arguing with a person who thinks it is hurtful to black children to make "snowmen" by pasting cotton balls onto construction paper

DP. I went back and re-read the post. I think the no cotton balls at school/chalk snowman poster was being sarcastic (she used a facepalm emoji). But I’m sure there are people in that group who think cotton should be banned from schools.

I remember when I first joined I tried to engage in rationale conversation and quickly one of the totally out there posters basically implied I was racist and told me I needed to listen to a podcast. That’s when I realized the entire group is an echo chamber of a few crazies who get off on making crazy allegations against anyone who has even a moderate difference in opinion.

Yeah, no. She was serious. Look at her other posts and likes on the thread. The facepalm was to indicate her shock that people in this day and age would use cotton balls even in an art project. That poster openly solicits Simone's approval and goes overboard trying to show how progressive and anti-racist she is.

+1000

She wasn't kidding about not using the cotton balls.

I don't agree with a ban on cotton balls but I can certainly see why a teacher would not want to go there.

Really? cotton bolls, maybe, but cotton balls wouldn't even cross my mind, and I have done plenty of anti-racist training and thinking.

I also think its ridiculous because there are plenty of kids at Gunston that have been through real trauma and are likely (inadvertently) exposed to triggers at school that would never occur to anyone to be sensitive about. There are kids who were smuggled into the US or came here on foot from El Salvador to escape drug gangs, there are kids who are refugees from civil wars in Sudan and Syria, there are kids in the foster system... They are certainly not thinking about complaining or suing the school because they played "capture the flag" or "dodge ball" in gym.

So much anti-racist training and still insensitive to the anti-Black racism systematically experienced by the descendants of black slaves in this country. SMH.
Typical white supremacist I guess.

We all get it that African Americans were unfathomably and inhumanely treated and used, etc etc etc. And we get that effects of slavery have endured. However, if an AA person today who is now generations removed from actual enslavement is truly "traumatized" by cotton balls, that person has other issues they need to address with a mental health professional. Resent history - and those to blame - all you want, rightfully so. But don't expect everyone to placate you with any and every possible six-degrees-of-separation you want to make with real trauma that never actually happened to you or your parents or likely your grandparents at this point. Stop diminishing the meaning of "trauma" and brutalizations and horrific situations that others are actually directly experiencing today. Am I to believe this kid would experience PTSD-like reactions at the sound of a horse whip? Something he's probably never once heard in his life?

Black kids know the history of what happened to their ancestors and yes the are still being traumatized through the current systemic racism and and white supremacy.
Admit it many white supremacist enjoy seeing Blacks victimized.

While that is sadly true, it has nothing to do with this lawsuit.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:May God give me (or better yet someone else) the strength to call out the BS on AEM right now.

There's no point arguing with a person who thinks it is hurtful to black children to make "snowmen" by pasting cotton balls onto construction paper

DP. I went back and re-read the post. I think the no cotton balls at school/chalk snowman poster was being sarcastic (she used a facepalm emoji). But I’m sure there are people in that group who think cotton should be banned from schools.

I remember when I first joined I tried to engage in rationale conversation and quickly one of the totally out there posters basically implied I was racist and told me I needed to listen to a podcast. That’s when I realized the entire group is an echo chamber of a few crazies who get off on making crazy allegations against anyone who has even a moderate difference in opinion.

Yeah, no. She was serious. Look at her other posts and likes on the thread. The facepalm was to indicate her shock that people in this day and age would use cotton balls even in an art project. That poster openly solicits Simone's approval and goes overboard trying to show how progressive and anti-racist she is.

+1000

She wasn't kidding about not using the cotton balls.

I don't agree with a ban on cotton balls but I can certainly see why a teacher would not want to go there.

Really? cotton bolls, maybe, but cotton balls wouldn't even cross my mind, and I have done plenty of anti-racist training and thinking.

I also think its ridiculous because there are plenty of kids at Gunston that have been through real trauma and are likely (inadvertently) exposed to triggers at school that would never occur to anyone to be sensitive about. There are kids who were smuggled into the US or came here on foot from El Salvador to escape drug gangs, there are kids who are refugees from civil wars in Sudan and Syria, there are kids in the foster system... They are certainly not thinking about complaining or suing the school because they played "capture the flag" or "dodge ball" in gym.

So much anti-racist training and still insensitive to the anti-Black racism systematically experienced by the descendants of black slaves in this country. SMH.
Typical white supremacist I guess.

We all get it that African Americans were unfathomably and inhumanely treated and used, etc etc etc. And we get that effects of slavery have endured. However, if an AA person today who is now generations removed from actual enslavement is truly "traumatized" by cotton balls, that person has other issues they need to address with a mental health professional. Resent history - and those to blame - all you want, rightfully so. But don't expect everyone to placate you with any and every possible six-degrees-of-separation you want to make with real trauma that never actually happened to you or your parents or likely your grandparents at this point. Stop diminishing the meaning of "trauma" and brutalizations and horrific situations that others are actually directly experiencing today. Am I to believe this kid would experience PTSD-like reactions at the sound of a horse whip? Something he's probably never once heard in his life?

Black kids know the history of what happened to their ancestors and yes the are still being traumatized through the current systemic racism and and white supremacy.
Admit it many white supremacist enjoy seeing Blacks victimized.

"Victimized" perhaps, but "being traumatized through system racism" they are not. They're only being traumatized by the adults who tell them they are/should be traumatized by things like stupid team-building games that happen to involve cotton balls. As in this case, the student himself indicated he was bothered in retrospect after thinking about it (ie, after telling his mother who was outraged and being told how insensitive and reprehensible the situation was). If he was actually traumatized by his experience, he would have immediately experienced the severe distress and suffered the traumatic reminder of the horrific experience of slavery done to his people and all the racism he has encountered in his life.

[Anonymous]

He’s probably just embarrassed about being pocked because he’s… A teenager! No one wants to play these dumb games. Then his mom made a big deal out of it making something out of nothing.

[Anonymous]

^picked

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:May God give me (or better yet someone else) the strength to call out the BS on AEM right now.

There's no point arguing with a person who thinks it is hurtful to black children to make "snowmen" by pasting cotton balls onto construction paper

DP. I went back and re-read the post. I think the no cotton balls at school/chalk snowman poster was being sarcastic (she used a facepalm emoji). But I’m sure there are people in that group who think cotton should be banned from schools.

I remember when I first joined I tried to engage in rationale conversation and quickly one of the totally out there posters basically implied I was racist and told me I needed to listen to a podcast. That’s when I realized the entire group is an echo chamber of a few crazies who get off on making crazy allegations against anyone who has even a moderate difference in opinion.

Yeah, no. She was serious. Look at her other posts and likes on the thread. The facepalm was to indicate her shock that people in this day and age would use cotton balls even in an art project. That poster openly solicits Simone's approval and goes overboard trying to show how progressive and anti-racist she is.

+1000

She wasn't kidding about not using the cotton balls.

I don't agree with a ban on cotton balls but I can certainly see why a teacher would not want to go there.

Really? cotton bolls, maybe, but cotton balls wouldn't even cross my mind, and I have done plenty of anti-racist training and thinking.

I also think its ridiculous because there are plenty of kids at Gunston that have been through real trauma and are likely (inadvertently) exposed to triggers at school that would never occur to anyone to be sensitive about. There are kids who were smuggled into the US or came here on foot from El Salvador to escape drug gangs, there are kids who are refugees from civil wars in Sudan and Syria, there are kids in the foster system... They are certainly not thinking about complaining or suing the school because they played "capture the flag" or "dodge ball" in gym.

So much anti-racist training and still insensitive to the anti-Black racism systematically experienced by the descendants of black slaves in this country. SMH.
Typical white supremacist I guess.

We all get it that African Americans were unfathomably and inhumanely treated and used, etc etc etc. And we get that effects of slavery have endured. However, if an AA person today who is now generations removed from actual enslavement is truly "traumatized" by cotton balls, that person has other issues they need to address with a mental health professional. Resent history - and those to blame - all you want, rightfully so. But don't expect everyone to placate you with any and every possible six-degrees-of-separation you want to make with real trauma that never actually happened to you or your parents or likely your grandparents at this point. Stop diminishing the meaning of "trauma" and brutalizations and horrific situations that others are actually directly experiencing today. Am I to believe this kid would experience PTSD-like reactions at the sound of a horse whip? Something he's probably never once heard in his life?

Black kids know the history of what happened to their ancestors and yes the are still being traumatized through the current systemic racism and and white supremacy.
Admit it many white supremacist enjoy seeing Blacks victimized.

"Victimized" perhaps, but "being traumatized through system racism" they are not. They're only being traumatized by the adults who tell them they are/should be traumatized by things like stupid team-building games that happen to involve cotton balls. As in this case, the student himself indicated he was bothered in retrospect after thinking about it (ie, after telling his mother who was outraged and being told how insensitive and reprehensible the situation was). If he was actually traumatized by his experience, he would have immediately experienced the severe distress and suffered the traumatic reminder of the horrific experience of slavery done to his people and all the racism he has encountered in his life.

Well I happen to disagree. The boy will remember this for the rest of his life. He may be too young to have understood what was happening while it happens now. But he knows now. I don’t know about $10 million, but the school system needs to pay.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Procedural questions. My understanding is that the claim for $10 million came in the form of a settlement demand letter. Is a demand letter a requirement before an actual suit can be filed?

Usually not but depends on the claim. Certain statutes do have a requirement to submit a demand letter/notice ahead of time.

Is the figure outrageously high because the aggrieved party wants this to go to trial and they’re just checking a procedural box by making this type of absurd monetary settlement demand?

No, I don't think so. It's their starting point for negotiations. A high demand can be needed to get an organization's attention. Or it can be based on damages. Or someone can be greedy. I don't know the details of this situation, so can't say more.

I’m sure APS has in-house lawyers who will recommend how to proceed, but is there any action the school board will take approving / rejecting any proposed settlement?

They may negotiate a settlement or maybe they won't. I'm sure they are evaluating how to respond.

Is this all closed door business, or will the public be made aware of how they respond to the $10 million demand or if they offer to settle for a different amount?

The terms of settlement agreements are often confidential, it depends on what is agreed upon, but this is common.

Or if any counterclaims are asserted?

If a lawsuit is filed with counterclaims, that would be public.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Procedural questions. My understanding is that the claim for $10 million came in the form of a settlement demand letter. Is a demand letter a requirement before an actual suit can be filed? Is the figure outrageously high because the aggrieved party wants this to go to trial and they’re just checking a procedural box by making this type of absurd monetary settlement demand? I’m sure APS has in-house lawyers who will recommend how to proceed, but is there any action the school board will take approving / rejecting any proposed settlement? Is this all closed door business, or will the public be made aware of how they respond to the $10 million demand or if they offer to settle for a different amount? Or if any counterclaims are asserted?

APS now has an in-house attorney - just hired in the last year to two. Up until then, we relied on outside counsel as needed. And I imagine that cases like this are why we now have to have one.

[Anonymous]

I'm sorry, but as a foreigner, I have no idea why this game was understood by the family to be the same as considering this student to be a slave picking cotton under inhumane conditions in the fields of the south.

And I am sure this teacher was entirely unaware of the non-existent association!

The first link given in this thread does not describe what the "retaliation" was the day after, but given the first part of the story, I would want to know exactly what that was before jumping all over the teacher for the supposed retaliation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Procedural questions. My understanding is that the claim for $10 million came in the form of a settlement demand letter. Is a demand letter a requirement before an actual suit can be filed?

Usually not but depends on the claim. Certain statutes do have a requirement to submit a demand letter/notice ahead of time.

Is the figure outrageously high because the aggrieved party wants this to go to trial and they’re just checking a procedural box by making this type of absurd monetary settlement demand?

No, I don't think so. It's their starting point for negotiations. A high demand can be needed to get an organization's attention. Or it can be based on damages. Or someone can be greedy. I don't know the details of this situation, so can't say more.

I’m sure APS has in-house lawyers who will recommend how to proceed, but is there any action the school board will take approving / rejecting any proposed settlement?

They may negotiate a settlement or maybe they won't. I'm sure they are evaluating how to respond.

Is this all closed door business, or will the public be made aware of how they respond to the $10 million demand or if they offer to settle for a different amount?

The terms of settlement agreements are often confidential, it depends on what is agreed upon, but this is common.

Or if any counterclaims are asserted?

If a lawsuit is filed with counterclaims, that would be public.

There won't be a lawsuit. No decent lawyer would let their clients file in this situation. No actionable claims and even if there were, I don't see them proving anything more than nominal damages. Their only angle is to bully APS into throwing money into a pre-filing settlement in order to avoid ongoing accusations of racism. APS will surely cave, but the right thing to do would be to let them proceed with their claims and let the chips fall where they may.

[Anonymous]

Episodes like this, and all the grievance industry professionals—several of whom appear to be promoting their grift in this thread—make me feel something very close to racism.

I don’t think it’s racism exactly. I genuinely love black people. I’ve been to the cookouts, I’ve dated interracially, I clap on 1 and 3. Cliche for which I’ll be mocked incoming: some of my dearest, closest, decades long friends are black. And I’m an ally—on REAL SH$T. But this stuff is just so utterly revolting.

You absolutely have white trash engaged in the same kind of thing—lazy, begging for handouts, skirting the rules, evidencing no shame whatsoever. But everyone—white, black, rich, poor—recognizes that for what it is. Just sort of crummy, gross, poor people doing their thing. This woman isn’t poor. And you’ve got the NAACP and a former semi-prominent government official jumping in the ring along with her. For something that is an utterly transparent BS money grab. Let’s get real here. It makes me sick.