APS black student singled out to play cotton picking game

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Lots of deflecting going on. Maybe there was no malicious intent, but obviously the family is offended. I am not familiar with the game, but as a Black adult, I would want my kids lubing their face up and covering it with cotton. I think I’d be upset too.
Justin Fairfax was a pretty good draw for an attorney. I’m sure Arlington County is now taking this seriously and they should respect the culture of Blacks in the country who’s ancestors were enslaved and the post traumatic stress they may be experiencing.

what part of the culture of Blacks and history of slavery makes cotton inherently offensive?

NP. Be for real. Nobody is saying cotton is inherently offensive. If you just google “cotton picking slur” you can see why having somebody who is Back pick up cotton is inappropriate. I think this woman is a hustler and the situation should have been taken care of with an email to the teacher that was forwarded to the principal and APS, but learn a little history.

A game with a factory made cotton ball is hardly the same as slave laborers picking cotton to the point that their fingers regularly bled.

Right. This is a hustle that is hurting the students of Gunston, making it harder to fill much-needed sub positions, making people scared that someone will point a finger at them for something benign and not doing race relations any favor. It's all around sad.

I'm the PP who said that the actions was culturally insensitive. I also said that this woman is a hustler and she should have just sent an email so that the sub was made aware of the cultural connotation of cotton balls. You're not doing anybody any favors by saying that cotton has NOTHING to do with race.

Here are some instances of Black students being harassed using cotton balls (all by other students, not teachers). It happens.

Cotton balls strewn across the grass at a Black cultural center in Mississippi: https://www.kmbc.com/article/cotton-balls-left-at-black-culture-center/3659180.

Kid hands out cotton balls to Black students to mock Black history month: https://www.revolt.tv/article/2023-02-10/272655/california-student-made-racist-black-history-month-cotton-ball-joke/

White kid throws cotton balls at Black kid at a private school: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XHMLYRNxP74

And the term "cotton-picker" is a racist slur.

That is NOT what I said. I said a GAME using a factory made cotton ball is not the same. You have to look at the circumstances. Was he the only kid picked, were all the kids picked black, etc etc NO. Your examples are completely different- of course those are racist! They were intended to be racist! This GAME was not.

[Anonymous]

So, to clarify, cotton balls, in any circumstance, are racially insensitive? Even if they aren’t being used in an insensitive way? Using cotton balls in an art project or a game is insensitive? What about in a clinical setting?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So, to clarify, cotton balls, in any circumstance, are racially insensitive? Even if they aren’t being used in an insensitive way? Using cotton balls in an art project or a game is insensitive? What about in a clinical setting?

Don’t wrap that wound or you may be sued for 5 million.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Lots of deflecting going on. Maybe there was no malicious intent, but obviously the family is offended. I am not familiar with the game, but as a Black adult, I would want my kids lubing their face up and covering it with cotton. I think I’d be upset too.
Justin Fairfax was a pretty good draw for an attorney. I’m sure Arlington County is now taking this seriously and they should respect the culture of Blacks in the country who’s ancestors were enslaved and the post traumatic stress they may be experiencing.

what part of the culture of Blacks and history of slavery makes cotton inherently offensive?

NP. Be for real. Nobody is saying cotton is inherently offensive. If you just google “cotton picking slur” you can see why having somebody who is Back pick up cotton is inappropriate. I think this woman is a hustler and the situation should have been taken care of with an email to the teacher that was forwarded to the principal and APS, but learn a little history.

A game with a factory made cotton ball is hardly the same as slave laborers picking cotton to the point that their fingers regularly bled.

Right. This is a hustle that is hurting the students of Gunston, making it harder to fill much-needed sub positions, making people scared that someone will point a finger at them for something benign and not doing race relations any favor. It's all around sad.

I'm the PP who said that the actions was culturally insensitive. I also said that this woman is a hustler and she should have just sent an email so that the sub was made aware of the cultural connotation of cotton balls. You're not doing anybody any favors by saying that cotton has NOTHING to do with race.

Here are some instances of Black students being harassed using cotton balls (all by other students, not teachers). It happens.

Cotton balls strewn across the grass at a Black cultural center in Mississippi: https://www.kmbc.com/article/cotton-balls-left-at-black-culture-center/3659180.

Kid hands out cotton balls to Black students to mock Black history month: https://www.revolt.tv/article/2023-02-10/272655/california-student-made-racist-black-history-month-cotton-ball-joke/

White kid throws cotton balls at Black kid at a private school: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XHMLYRNxP74

And the term "cotton-picker" is a racist slur.

That is NOT what I said. I said a GAME using a factory made cotton ball is not the same. You have to look at the circumstances. Was he the only kid picked, were all the kids picked black, etc etc NO. Your examples are completely different- of course those are racist! They were intended to be racist! This GAME was not.

Man, communication is so difficult on DCUM sometimes. I think I’m trying to reply to five different people. So I’ll simplify: a lot of these comments suggested that the association between synthetic cotton balls and racism was a big stretch, and I was simply pointing out that it’s not using examples.

I do not know how many different ways I can say that I don’t think this game was racist, just that it might be good for teachers to avoid it in the future, so I will stop trying to do that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Lots of deflecting going on. Maybe there was no malicious intent, but obviously the family is offended. I am not familiar with the game, but as a Black adult, I would want my kids lubing their face up and covering it with cotton. I think I’d be upset too.
Justin Fairfax was a pretty good draw for an attorney. I’m sure Arlington County is now taking this seriously and they should respect the culture of Blacks in the country who’s ancestors were enslaved and the post traumatic stress they may be experiencing.

what part of the culture of Blacks and history of slavery makes cotton inherently offensive?

NP. Be for real. Nobody is saying cotton is inherently offensive. If you just google “cotton picking slur” you can see why having somebody who is Back pick up cotton is inappropriate. I think this woman is a hustler and the situation should have been taken care of with an email to the teacher that was forwarded to the principal and APS, but learn a little history.

A game with a factory made cotton ball is hardly the same as slave laborers picking cotton to the point that their fingers regularly bled.

Right. This is a hustle that is hurting the students of Gunston, making it harder to fill much-needed sub positions, making people scared that someone will point a finger at them for something benign and not doing race relations any favor. It's all around sad.

I'm the PP who said that the actions was culturally insensitive. I also said that this woman is a hustler and she should have just sent an email so that the sub was made aware of the cultural connotation of cotton balls. You're not doing anybody any favors by saying that cotton has NOTHING to do with race.

Here are some instances of Black students being harassed using cotton balls (all by other students, not teachers). It happens.

Cotton balls strewn across the grass at a Black cultural center in Mississippi: https://www.kmbc.com/article/cotton-balls-left-at-black-culture-center/3659180.

Kid hands out cotton balls to Black students to mock Black history month: https://www.revolt.tv/article/2023-02-10/272655/california-student-made-racist-black-history-month-cotton-ball-joke/

White kid throws cotton balls at Black kid at a private school: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XHMLYRNxP74

And the term "cotton-picker" is a racist slur.

That is NOT what I said. I said a GAME using a factory made cotton ball is not the same. You have to look at the circumstances. Was he the only kid picked, were all the kids picked black, etc etc NO. Your examples are completely different- of course those are racist! They were intended to be racist! This GAME was not.

Man, communication is so difficult on DCUM sometimes. I think I’m trying to reply to five different people. So I’ll simplify: a lot of these comments suggested that the association between synthetic cotton balls and racism was a big stretch, and I was simply pointing out that it’s not using examples.

I do not know how many different ways I can say that I don’t think this game was racist, just that it might be good for teachers to avoid it in the future, so I will stop trying to do that.

Then just stop.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Lots of deflecting going on. Maybe there was no malicious intent, but obviously the family is offended. I am not familiar with the game, but as a Black adult, I would want my kids lubing their face up and covering it with cotton. I think I’d be upset too.
Justin Fairfax was a pretty good draw for an attorney. I’m sure Arlington County is now taking this seriously and they should respect the culture of Blacks in the country who’s ancestors were enslaved and the post traumatic stress they may be experiencing.

what part of the culture of Blacks and history of slavery makes cotton inherently offensive?

NP. Be for real. Nobody is saying cotton is inherently offensive. If you just google “cotton picking slur” you can see why having somebody who is Back pick up cotton is inappropriate. I think this woman is a hustler and the situation should have been taken care of with an email to the teacher that was forwarded to the principal and APS, but learn a little history.

A game with a factory made cotton ball is hardly the same as slave laborers picking cotton to the point that their fingers regularly bled.

Right. This is a hustle that is hurting the students of Gunston, making it harder to fill much-needed sub positions, making people scared that someone will point a finger at them for something benign and not doing race relations any favor. It's all around sad.

I'm the PP who said that the actions was culturally insensitive. I also said that this woman is a hustler and she should have just sent an email so that the sub was made aware of the cultural connotation of cotton balls. You're not doing anybody any favors by saying that cotton has NOTHING to do with race.

Here are some instances of Black students being harassed using cotton balls (all by other students, not teachers). It happens.

Cotton balls strewn across the grass at a Black cultural center in Mississippi: https://www.kmbc.com/article/cotton-balls-left-at-black-culture-center/3659180.

Kid hands out cotton balls to Black students to mock Black history month: https://www.revolt.tv/article/2023-02-10/272655/california-student-made-racist-black-history-month-cotton-ball-joke/

White kid throws cotton balls at Black kid at a private school: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XHMLYRNxP74

And the term "cotton-picker" is a racist slur.

This is so dumb. Are you genuinely not capable of distinguishing these events—where cotton is deployed specifically in reference to slavery/cotton picking with a racist intent—from a classroom game involving bobbing for cotton balls with your nose? A game being played by the entire class?

According to your logic, we need to stop using white sheets given their role in the history of harassing black Americans. We also need to do away with fire hydrants and dogs. Burn down every tree.

One PP said "A game with a factory made cotton ball is hardly the same as slave laborers picking cotton to the point that their fingers regularly bled." Well, you could also say that putting a bunch of cotton balls on the yard is hardly the same as slaver laborers picking up cotton to the point that their fingers regularly bled. I thought that perhaps PP didn't know that people use cotton balls in racist ways.

It is both true that it's probably best for teachers to avoid activities that involve Black kids picking up cotton and that the teacher wasn't being racist and this woman shouldn't get a dime in compensation.

Jesus, lady. I can’t tell if you’re actually this obtuse or you’re just so invested in your liberal guilt that you’re bending yourself into a pretzel.

No, coating a black family’s front yard in cotton balls is not “the same as slaver laborers picking up cotton to the point that their fingers regularly bled.” So what? It’s also very obviously a racist act. Playing bob for cotton balls with your nose as a dumb game in a school room is not. You cannot be so dense that this concept eludes you.

We are human beings. The ability to exercise reason and make judgments is what separates us from the apes. We don’t need a universal ban on cotton balls.

Can you IMAGINE a civil rights leader from the 1960s watching this episode play out? It would be incomprehensible.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Lots of deflecting going on. Maybe there was no malicious intent, but obviously the family is offended. I am not familiar with the game, but as a Black adult, I would want my kids lubing their face up and covering it with cotton. I think I’d be upset too.
Justin Fairfax was a pretty good draw for an attorney. I’m sure Arlington County is now taking this seriously and they should respect the culture of Blacks in the country who’s ancestors were enslaved and the post traumatic stress they may be experiencing.

what part of the culture of Blacks and history of slavery makes cotton inherently offensive?

NP. Be for real. Nobody is saying cotton is inherently offensive. If you just google “cotton picking slur” you can see why having somebody who is Back pick up cotton is inappropriate. I think this woman is a hustler and the situation should have been taken care of with an email to the teacher that was forwarded to the principal and APS, but learn a little history.

A game with a factory made cotton ball is hardly the same as slave laborers picking cotton to the point that their fingers regularly bled.

Right. This is a hustle that is hurting the students of Gunston, making it harder to fill much-needed sub positions, making people scared that someone will point a finger at them for something benign and not doing race relations any favor. It's all around sad.

I'm the PP who said that the actions was culturally insensitive. I also said that this woman is a hustler and she should have just sent an email so that the sub was made aware of the cultural connotation of cotton balls. You're not doing anybody any favors by saying that cotton has NOTHING to do with race.

Here are some instances of Black students being harassed using cotton balls (all by other students, not teachers). It happens.

Cotton balls strewn across the grass at a Black cultural center in Mississippi: https://www.kmbc.com/article/cotton-balls-left-at-black-culture-center/3659180.

Kid hands out cotton balls to Black students to mock Black history month: https://www.revolt.tv/article/2023-02-10/272655/california-student-made-racist-black-history-month-cotton-ball-joke/

White kid throws cotton balls at Black kid at a private school: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XHMLYRNxP74

And the term "cotton-picker" is a racist slur.

That is NOT what I said. I said a GAME using a factory made cotton ball is not the same. You have to look at the circumstances. Was he the only kid picked, were all the kids picked black, etc etc NO. Your examples are completely different- of course those are racist! They were intended to be racist! This GAME was not.

I think the more important questions are:
Was he offended?
Does he have a legitimate reason to be offended?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Lots of deflecting going on. Maybe there was no malicious intent, but obviously the family is offended. I am not familiar with the game, but as a Black adult, I would want my kids lubing their face up and covering it with cotton. I think I’d be upset too.
Justin Fairfax was a pretty good draw for an attorney. I’m sure Arlington County is now taking this seriously and they should respect the culture of Blacks in the country who’s ancestors were enslaved and the post traumatic stress they may be experiencing.

what part of the culture of Blacks and history of slavery makes cotton inherently offensive?

NP. Be for real. Nobody is saying cotton is inherently offensive. If you just google “cotton picking slur” you can see why having somebody who is Back pick up cotton is inappropriate. I think this woman is a hustler and the situation should have been taken care of with an email to the teacher that was forwarded to the principal and APS, but learn a little history.

A game with a factory made cotton ball is hardly the same as slave laborers picking cotton to the point that their fingers regularly bled.

Right. This is a hustle that is hurting the students of Gunston, making it harder to fill much-needed sub positions, making people scared that someone will point a finger at them for something benign and not doing race relations any favor. It's all around sad.

I'm the PP who said that the actions was culturally insensitive. I also said that this woman is a hustler and she should have just sent an email so that the sub was made aware of the cultural connotation of cotton balls. You're not doing anybody any favors by saying that cotton has NOTHING to do with race.

Here are some instances of Black students being harassed using cotton balls (all by other students, not teachers). It happens.

Cotton balls strewn across the grass at a Black cultural center in Mississippi: https://www.kmbc.com/article/cotton-balls-left-at-black-culture-center/3659180.

Kid hands out cotton balls to Black students to mock Black history month: https://www.revolt.tv/article/2023-02-10/272655/california-student-made-racist-black-history-month-cotton-ball-joke/

White kid throws cotton balls at Black kid at a private school: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XHMLYRNxP74

And the term "cotton-picker" is a racist slur.

That is NOT what I said. I said a GAME using a factory made cotton ball is not the same. You have to look at the circumstances. Was he the only kid picked, were all the kids picked black, etc etc NO. Your examples are completely different- of course those are racist! They were intended to be racist! This GAME was not.

I think the more important questions are:
Was he offended?
Does he have a legitimate reason to be offended?

Someone offended me yesterday and I didn’t go to sue for 5 million.

It’s not about whether or not he’s offended when it comes to a lawsuit. It’s whether or not there was intent to discriminate or intimidate.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Lots of deflecting going on. Maybe there was no malicious intent, but obviously the family is offended. I am not familiar with the game, but as a Black adult, I would want my kids lubing their face up and covering it with cotton. I think I’d be upset too.
Justin Fairfax was a pretty good draw for an attorney. I’m sure Arlington County is now taking this seriously and they should respect the culture of Blacks in the country who’s ancestors were enslaved and the post traumatic stress they may be experiencing.

what part of the culture of Blacks and history of slavery makes cotton inherently offensive?

NP. Be for real. Nobody is saying cotton is inherently offensive. If you just google “cotton picking slur” you can see why having somebody who is Back pick up cotton is inappropriate. I think this woman is a hustler and the situation should have been taken care of with an email to the teacher that was forwarded to the principal and APS, but learn a little history.

A game with a factory made cotton ball is hardly the same as slave laborers picking cotton to the point that their fingers regularly bled.

Right. This is a hustle that is hurting the students of Gunston, making it harder to fill much-needed sub positions, making people scared that someone will point a finger at them for something benign and not doing race relations any favor. It's all around sad.

I'm the PP who said that the actions was culturally insensitive. I also said that this woman is a hustler and she should have just sent an email so that the sub was made aware of the cultural connotation of cotton balls. You're not doing anybody any favors by saying that cotton has NOTHING to do with race.

Here are some instances of Black students being harassed using cotton balls (all by other students, not teachers). It happens.

Cotton balls strewn across the grass at a Black cultural center in Mississippi: https://www.kmbc.com/article/cotton-balls-left-at-black-culture-center/3659180.

Kid hands out cotton balls to Black students to mock Black history month: https://www.revolt.tv/article/2023-02-10/272655/california-student-made-racist-black-history-month-cotton-ball-joke/

White kid throws cotton balls at Black kid at a private school: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XHMLYRNxP74

And the term "cotton-picker" is a racist slur.

That is NOT what I said. I said a GAME using a factory made cotton ball is not the same. You have to look at the circumstances. Was he the only kid picked, were all the kids picked black, etc etc NO. Your examples are completely different- of course those are racist! They were intended to be racist! This GAME was not.

I think the more important questions are:
Was he offended?
Does he have a legitimate reason to be offended?

No. and no.
His mother decided to be offended on his behalf. There is nothing wrong or even culturally insensitive about the game.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Lots of deflecting going on. Maybe there was no malicious intent, but obviously the family is offended. I am not familiar with the game, but as a Black adult, I would want my kids lubing their face up and covering it with cotton. I think I’d be upset too.
Justin Fairfax was a pretty good draw for an attorney. I’m sure Arlington County is now taking this seriously and they should respect the culture of Blacks in the country who’s ancestors were enslaved and the post traumatic stress they may be experiencing.

what part of the culture of Blacks and history of slavery makes cotton inherently offensive?

NP. Be for real. Nobody is saying cotton is inherently offensive. If you just google “cotton picking slur” you can see why having somebody who is Back pick up cotton is inappropriate. I think this woman is a hustler and the situation should have been taken care of with an email to the teacher that was forwarded to the principal and APS, but learn a little history.

A game with a factory made cotton ball is hardly the same as slave laborers picking cotton to the point that their fingers regularly bled.

Right. This is a hustle that is hurting the students of Gunston, making it harder to fill much-needed sub positions, making people scared that someone will point a finger at them for something benign and not doing race relations any favor. It's all around sad.

I'm the PP who said that the actions was culturally insensitive. I also said that this woman is a hustler and she should have just sent an email so that the sub was made aware of the cultural connotation of cotton balls. You're not doing anybody any favors by saying that cotton has NOTHING to do with race.

Here are some instances of Black students being harassed using cotton balls (all by other students, not teachers). It happens.

Cotton balls strewn across the grass at a Black cultural center in Mississippi: https://www.kmbc.com/article/cotton-balls-left-at-black-culture-center/3659180.

Kid hands out cotton balls to Black students to mock Black history month: https://www.revolt.tv/article/2023-02-10/272655/california-student-made-racist-black-history-month-cotton-ball-joke/

White kid throws cotton balls at Black kid at a private school: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XHMLYRNxP74

And the term "cotton-picker" is a racist slur.

That is NOT what I said. I said a GAME using a factory made cotton ball is not the same. You have to look at the circumstances. Was he the only kid picked, were all the kids picked black, etc etc NO. Your examples are completely different- of course those are racist! They were intended to be racist! This GAME was not.

I think the more important questions are:
Was he offended?
Does he have a legitimate reason to be offended?

No. and no.
His mother decided to be offended on his behalf. There is nothing wrong or even culturally insensitive about the game.

He was pissed He had to play the embarrassing game in front of his classmates. I don’t blame him for not wanting to play it but it’s the mother who made it into something racist.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Lots of deflecting going on. Maybe there was no malicious intent, but obviously the family is offended. I am not familiar with the game, but as a Black adult, I would want my kids lubing their face up and covering it with cotton. I think I’d be upset too.
Justin Fairfax was a pretty good draw for an attorney. I’m sure Arlington County is now taking this seriously and they should respect the culture of Blacks in the country who’s ancestors were enslaved and the post traumatic stress they may be experiencing.

what part of the culture of Blacks and history of slavery makes cotton inherently offensive?

NP. Be for real. Nobody is saying cotton is inherently offensive. If you just google “cotton picking slur” you can see why having somebody who is Back pick up cotton is inappropriate. I think this woman is a hustler and the situation should have been taken care of with an email to the teacher that was forwarded to the principal and APS, but learn a little history.

A game with a factory made cotton ball is hardly the same as slave laborers picking cotton to the point that their fingers regularly bled.

Right. This is a hustle that is hurting the students of Gunston, making it harder to fill much-needed sub positions, making people scared that someone will point a finger at them for something benign and not doing race relations any favor. It's all around sad.

I'm the PP who said that the actions was culturally insensitive. I also said that this woman is a hustler and she should have just sent an email so that the sub was made aware of the cultural connotation of cotton balls. You're not doing anybody any favors by saying that cotton has NOTHING to do with race.

Here are some instances of Black students being harassed using cotton balls (all by other students, not teachers). It happens.

Cotton balls strewn across the grass at a Black cultural center in Mississippi: https://www.kmbc.com/article/cotton-balls-left-at-black-culture-center/3659180.

Kid hands out cotton balls to Black students to mock Black history month: https://www.revolt.tv/article/2023-02-10/272655/california-student-made-racist-black-history-month-cotton-ball-joke/

White kid throws cotton balls at Black kid at a private school: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XHMLYRNxP74

And the term "cotton-picker" is a racist slur.

That is NOT what I said. I said a GAME using a factory made cotton ball is not the same. You have to look at the circumstances. Was he the only kid picked, were all the kids picked black, etc etc NO. Your examples are completely different- of course those are racist! They were intended to be racist! This GAME was not.

I think the more important questions are:
Was he offended?
Does he have a legitimate reason to be offended?

Someone offended me yesterday and I didn’t go to sue for 5 million.

It’s not about whether or not he’s offended when it comes to a lawsuit. It’s whether or not there was intent to discriminate or intimidate.

Intent does not outweigh impact. What could have been a stupid way to kill time became something bigger because no one stepped in to turn a benign mistake into an opportunity to learn how to do better. The kid didn't know how to speak up, the teacher didn't know when to back down, the principal didn't know how to address it constructively, and the mom didn't know how to raise (or wasn't interested in raising) an issue in a collaborative way.

If the parents aren't Arlington residents and their son gets booted from APS, it will seem like poetic justice for that one time she charged a daycare parent a late fee. Live by the rule, die by the rule.

But everything else is just depressing. Also, eff Justin Fairfax.

[Anonymous]

The social question of whether the game is appropriate or potentially offensive is different than the legal question raised by a claim for $10 million in damages. They will need to show either some type of malicious intent or breach of duty/discrimination towards the student. It’s not sufficient to demonstrate that someone was offended. For all its shortcomings, I imagine this is a difficult district to bring this kind of claim in (very liberal, constant lip-service to celebrating equity and cultural/racial diversity).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The social question of whether the game is appropriate or potentially offensive is different than the legal question raised by a claim for $10 million in damages. They will need to show either some type of malicious intent or breach of duty/discrimination towards the student. It’s not sufficient to demonstrate that someone was offended. For all its shortcomings, I imagine this is a difficult district to bring this kind of claim in (very liberal, constant lip-service to celebrating equity and cultural/racial diversity).

Thank you for laying this out so clearly and succinctly. It’s what many of us have been trying to say.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Lots of deflecting going on. Maybe there was no malicious intent, but obviously the family is offended. I am not familiar with the game, but as a Black adult, I would want my kids lubing their face up and covering it with cotton. I think I’d be upset too.
Justin Fairfax was a pretty good draw for an attorney. I’m sure Arlington County is now taking this seriously and they should respect the culture of Blacks in the country who’s ancestors were enslaved and the post traumatic stress they may be experiencing.

what part of the culture of Blacks and history of slavery makes cotton inherently offensive?

NP. Be for real. Nobody is saying cotton is inherently offensive. If you just google “cotton picking slur” you can see why having somebody who is Back pick up cotton is inappropriate. I think this woman is a hustler and the situation should have been taken care of with an email to the teacher that was forwarded to the principal and APS, but learn a little history.

A game with a factory made cotton ball is hardly the same as slave laborers picking cotton to the point that their fingers regularly bled.

Right. This is a hustle that is hurting the students of Gunston, making it harder to fill much-needed sub positions, making people scared that someone will point a finger at them for something benign and not doing race relations any favor. It's all around sad.

I'm the PP who said that the actions was culturally insensitive. I also said that this woman is a hustler and she should have just sent an email so that the sub was made aware of the cultural connotation of cotton balls. You're not doing anybody any favors by saying that cotton has NOTHING to do with race.

Here are some instances of Black students being harassed using cotton balls (all by other students, not teachers). It happens.

Cotton balls strewn across the grass at a Black cultural center in Mississippi: https://www.kmbc.com/article/cotton-balls-left-at-black-culture-center/3659180.

Kid hands out cotton balls to Black students to mock Black history month: https://www.revolt.tv/article/2023-02-10/272655/california-student-made-racist-black-history-month-cotton-ball-joke/

White kid throws cotton balls at Black kid at a private school: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XHMLYRNxP74

And the term "cotton-picker" is a racist slur.

That is NOT what I said. I said a GAME using a factory made cotton ball is not the same. You have to look at the circumstances. Was he the only kid picked, were all the kids picked black, etc etc NO. Your examples are completely different- of course those are racist! They were intended to be racist! This GAME was not.

I think the more important questions are:
Was he offended?
Does he have a legitimate reason to be offended?

Someone offended me yesterday and I didn’t go to sue for 5 million.

It’s not about whether or not he’s offended when it comes to a lawsuit. It’s whether or not there was intent to discriminate or intimidate.

Intent does not outweigh impact. What could have been a stupid way to kill time became something bigger because no one stepped in to turn a benign mistake into an opportunity to learn how to do better. The kid didn't know how to speak up, the teacher didn't know when to back down, the principal didn't know how to address it constructively, and the mom didn't know how to raise (or wasn't interested in raising) an issue in a collaborative way.

If the parents aren't Arlington residents and their son gets booted from APS, it will seem like poetic justice for that one time she charged a daycare parent a late fee. Live by the rule, die by the rule.

But everything else is just depressing. Also, eff Justin Fairfax.

Whoa, horsey! No. No one stepped in because NOBODY saw anything to step in about because there was absolutely nothing wrong with using cotton balls for this particular stupid game and activity. There was NO mistake made. The kid didn't speak up because he wasn't offended at the time, just didn't want to play the stupid game that other classmates also didn't want to play. It all "became bigger" because of MOM. MOM. MOM is the only problem here.

[Anonymous]

Justin Fairfax’s website claims “Attorney Justin Fairfax is quickly becoming the Ben Crump of Northern Virginia.” I think he’s doing this for his own notoriety more than anything else!