Mom Says Math Homework is Racist

I'm sorry, but it's those subgroups that get to decide what is offensive to them, not the majority. As a black person, I don't find this image offensive in and of it's self, however when you factor in that this child is the only black child in the class and has faced racism from his classmates before (and I don't believe for a second this mother didn't make that known to the school, therefore making it known to his teachers) this becomes very inappropriate. I can totally understand her freaking out over it. Facing racist remarks isn't just emotionally hurtful, we live in a culture where people who make racially charged statements are viewed as dangerous and aggressive, there's a very real fear for one's safety that accompanies the remarks, one you couldn't understand unless it has happened to you. And to be fair, this mother probably had never seen this image before, I know my mother doesn't check out LOL stuff on the internet.

I'm truly astounded that you perceived the same thought I had. I guess common sense still applies to some who think rationally. Thank you for your observation.

THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU! I couldn't agree more or have said it better! TOO MANY PEOPLE SEE RACISM WHERE THERE IS NONE!

I believe the only thing seen was a way to make money! In today's economy it seems people are looking at any way to make a buck, including suing the state education departments and depriving children of education!!! These people need to get a life!

#7 - Elizabeth - At last! a person with some intelligence. I couldn't agree more with your posting. Calling in the NAACP in this matter made a non racial situation into a racial one.

My feelings for the boy in this matter because now the students will have something to tease him about.

Thanks again Elizabeth!

Did it ever occur to any of you that if it hasn't been for the remarks made by the WHITE students this probably wouldn't have been such a big deal? Their remarks is what makes this racial.

Would some of you feel the same way if your child was the only minority in this class and the picture depicted a person of your race and the same remarks were made to your child?

Think of this as a two-way street and the same could happen to your child(ren).

Babygirl, growing up not only was I the only person of color in my class, but I was only one of three in the entire school (until I hit about seventh grade, and then there were some more black children that went to kindergarten). There is racial sensitivity, and then there is being sensitive about your race. If someone is so racially blind that they do something without the idea or intent of offending but do, it's not their issue, but yours. The only person who even remotely made a racist action was the student in class, not the teacher, who is taking the brunt of this. If the student who was offended had said so to the student, or even spoken to the teacher himself, this wouldn't be an issue. But rather, he told his mommy, who then blew the whole thing out of proportion.

Growing up I was taught how to react if someone were to make fun of me or says something inappropriate, and how to handle teasing, and I can assure you it had nothing to do with the NAACP.

Elizabeth, you are not a person of color. I repeat: You are not a person of color. OR, you are not the mother of a young black male. Either way, you and others here are woefully insensitive and blind.

If this is not a racial incident, please tell me what in the world would be considered a racial incident? An unflattering picture of a black man, wide-mouthed and toothless, who can not spell the word "way'' and kids asking the ONE black kid in the class if that's his father is not racial?.

I am not in favor of calling every incident that involves blacks or hispanics or whites or whatever other group a racial incident; however, when the term fits go ahead and apply it.

It applies here.

If there had been a toothless white man on a math homework assignment given by a black teacher, and ONE white student in the math class, everyone would agree that the white child had experienced racism in all its glory. A question from a black kid asking if the man in the photo was the white boy's father would have sent everyone over the edge.

But what really upsets me is that this black mother, who is protecting her son, is being ridiculed. My, how society wants black mothers to step up and be involved in their children's lives. This mom knows what's going on in her son's math class, is supporting his efforts to be on the Honor Roll, is willing to go to bat for her son when she feels he has been ridiculed, and a bunch of folks still find fault with her.

She kept him home to avoid more conflict, but now she's blamed for letting him stay home from school.

Really. Really, people.

Lynn, as I have stated before, I am a person of color. I do not like the term African-American, as my ancestors were from the Caribbean, and I do not like the classification "Black" because that is an entirely different color than my skin tone. I am proud to be so. But when I hear statements like yours, I am irritated beyond belief. Just because I do not get up in arms when a white student says something stupid to a black student doesn't mean I am any less a person of color. As I have said before, the student who made the insensitive remark was the only one who did something uncalled for. The teacher had no intention of insulting or hurting anyone. That is not an act of racism. The fact that the mother was insulted is her problem that she made into everyone else's problem. It was a poor choice of artwork, but not something that needed to be addressed by the NAACP.

As for the mother protecting her child--protecting him from what exactly? It's not as if the student who asked if it was his father was then burning a cross on his front lawn. Kids insult each other all the time, and they need to learn how to handle it so that one comment doesn't snowball, as this one has. I am not the mother of a young black male, being only 23, but if I was, I can assure you I would teach him how to be a gentleman in the face of adversity, without my interference.

Hi Elizabeth (always loved that name by the way),
I am very impressed with your wisdom and manner in getting your point across (there are so many mean people on blogs (yet in real life we both know they would hide their "true colors" and not have the courage of their convictions if they were made to say these mean things face to face) it's really nice to see someone who actually reasons their answer before typing an impulse thought). I totally agree with you and it has nothing to do with the "race" issue. I could care less about the color of someones skin (my god it just happens to be an organ after all and nobody judges me on the color of my kidney LOL). It has to do with intelligence, thoughtfulness, caring and a persons character. You seem to have all of the above and I'm honestly awed by your entry. Wishing you the best and thank you for your intelligent reasoning. Bet you never thought a southern white boy would agree with you. I had to throw that in just to make you smile. LOL

Lynn (#22), I'm sorry you feel that way. I have 3 grown sons, and they were frequently the target of bullies during their school days. Obviously, if the teasing gets out of hand (as in this case; the boy who made that remark should have been "educated" a bit), a parent/teacher conference, or even a parent/administration conference, is in order. To keep the child out of school for the duration, and make him the butt of even more bullying in the future (which is pretty much assured, because of the mom's behavior), is not the way to handle a situation like this.

I think the teacher goofed - BIG time - but I don't think he was making a blatantly racist statement. I think, as has been said before, that maybe he's just color-blind, not a racist, and just chose that picture because he thought the kids would think it was funny. Ok, maybe he needs some sensitivity training, but to keep her kid out of school is teaching the boy the totally wrong thing. Unfortunately, the world can be an ugly place, even for adults, and along with righting the wrong, she could be teaching her son to stand up for himself, or that sometimes ignorance has to be ignored, not that if someone says something nasty, he should hide behind momma's skirts. Instead of teaching her son how to deal with the bullies, she's really helping to make him the target of even more bullying. If there's a problem with continuing bullying, that should be dealt with by contact with the administration or school board. What the NAACP has to do with this, I just don't understand, except to get this mother her story, and a bit of attention.

Elizabeth: That you can not refer to yourself as "Black" is an indication to me that you likely have a few head issues. It's OK, though. Many "people of color" do, and so you are not alone. I do not mean that in a degrading way. But it is clear to me that you can not adequately address what happened with that picture in that math class at that school because you were never a "Black" person in a white school. Your ancestors are from the Caribbean. Not a lot you can identify with, then, in terms of American race relations.

You do not have to get up in arms over every incident you read about involving a black person. But please do not interpret for this mother and her son what is racist.

I do not know if the teacher had no intention of insulting this student. How do you know? If the teacher is 25 years or older, then he would know that the whole "Amos 'n Andy" image of a black person is highly inflammatory and insensitive in America. Those images were used to make fun and ridicule "blacks." Those images are still used to do so.

You asked from what the mother was protecting her son. I believe the mother was protecting her son from any fallout that may have been created the next day. Even if it was her doing. That's what mothers do - black and white. Just how would you teach your son to be "a gentleman in the face of adversity" any differently than this mother is doing? He didn't leave the classroom. He didn't rip up the paper. He didn't hit the other student. He didn't curse the teacher out. I think she's done a decent job from what I can tell. But you used an interesting word choice: Adversity. So, is that what you would call this incident? One of adversity?

Interesting.

Elizabeth, kids are cruel and they have to learn how to deal with that cruelty. But the teacher was wrong here, and the kids followed suit. If there had been a picture of a Ras smoking weed with a steel drum saying: "No way, mon." You may have been OK, but I doubt it. Especially after a white student asked if that was your father.

And by the way, white people use the term "white" every day to describe themselves. You have many negative associations with the word "black," I guess. Using the term "black'' has very little to do with one's skin tone. It was adopted in the '60s because it was meant to convey a positive and strong image of a race of people who had been denigrated in America even though they had made many contributions to the country. In fact, it was used to replace the word "colored." I find it, um, unusual that "people of color" are comfortable with that term.

I agree. One thing though, the student that asked the student if it was a picture of his father, should be punished! That was just ignorant!

Farrwriternow, your comment is exactly why I don't like to refer to myself as a "Black" person. To be black in America comes with a certain perceived identity, by both black and white alike, and frankly, I don't identify with a typical "black" persona. You're not "black enough" if you do or say this, you're not "black enough" if you don't listen to this kind of music. It is sad, but it's true. "Black" people come in all shapes, sizes, and personalities. And what of those who are multiracial, black and white, what are we supposed to call them? Blaxican? Blackipino? Person of Color seems a lot better to me than that. And yes, I was a minority in a predominately white school, but was it an issue? No, because race was never an issue with the other children, and I realized that. If anything was said or done to me, it was not out of racism, but because of me as a person. Perhaps the child who insulted the black student wasn't friends with him in the first place and saw it as an opportunity to take a shot at him (metaphorically).

You asked how I would teach my son to be a gentleman--well, gentlemen handle their own problems, by themselves and with dignity. I won't fight my child's battles for them--they must learn how to handle themselves. If this kid isn't doing that by junior high, what's going to happen to him in high school or college, or when he gets a job? The child himself could have solved this problem if he'd spoken his opinion about the racist picture and the comment that the other child made. But instead his mother fought his battle, and that won't work out well in the long run.

On another note, your comment is a type of racism, too--implying that because I don't refer to myself as a "Black" person that my being the only non-white person in my class is not the same as a "real black person's." You don't know my experiences any more than I know yours, so please don't say I'm not "black" in the right way.

"A lot of people seem to see racism where there is none. Many young people do not even think race is an issue because we just wouldn't even consider judging someone because of it. It's not something we grew up with, so we wouldn't even think someone might find something offensive, because we don't see it as a stereotype, but a silly or stupid caricature of something we know is not the real thing. "

Wonderfully put, Elizabeth. I do not know why people asume that people like such do not exist, because they do.

I am with you Elizabeth! By the way I love your name! *

I don't see what's racist about the photo. If you had a picture in
your hand of my toothless grandma (who is white) I would not call youracist. It's a goofy picture. I'm sure the man in the photo would
think it's absurd of someone to call his picture a racist picture.
It's a picture of a man being silly. Sometimes teachers add goofy
pictures to assingments to keep the childs attention. Sometimes we as adults blow sh-- way out of proportion. About the kid who made fun of the kid I honestly don't see that as a big deal either. Granted I don't know the exact situation but given a goofy picture I might tell a classmate "Who's that your boyfriend?" "Who's that your daddy?" Just doesn't sound like a big deal then, just goofing off, you see how a joke like that is not a big deal. Granted not everybody is as laidback & chill as me. Some got to fight even if it's not an issue but I say if were gonna fight for something let's fight hunger or some real cause like aids. I'm not gonna fight a teacher who barely making enough to feed himself!