Student's MLK Tribute Ignites Controversy School Sent Student Home After Dressing As MLK
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. -- A second-grader at Meridian Ranch Elementary school in Colorado Springs was pulled out of class on Wednesday for painting his face black.
Sean King dressed up as Martin Luther King Jr. for a class project, reported KRDO."It was wax museum day for the second-graders and each one dressed up as a historical figure they were assigned," said Sean’s mother, Michelle King-Roca.
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King-Roca said Sean was excited for the project."He
said, 'Mom, I want to wear a black suit because that’s what he wore, a
black tie, a white shirt and also I want to do my face black and wear a
mustache,'" said King-Roca.Sean’s parents came with him to school, as did the other second grade parents, to watch the presentations."Right
before it was time to come in (to the classroom), the principal came up
and stated he (Sean) was to take the face mask off. There was a person
in the faculty that had an issue with it," said King-Roca.King-Roca said she and her husband, Anthony, were stunned and shocked."As
a parent I think it’s pretty sad that you’ve got a principal and a
faculty member that are acting the way they are when they should be
setting an example for children," said Roca.Spokeswoman Stephanie
Meredith spoke on behalf of the principal and said it wasn’t just a
staff member who took offensive to Sean’s face paint."When other
students are offended by something, it is the principal’s role that the
educational environment is safe for all students," said Meredith.Meredith
said there were no guidelines given for the class project, but that
wearing face paint falls under the school’s dress code policy and it's
not allowed.The principal asked Sean to wash off his face, but Sean said he didn’t understand why."They
thought it was inappropriate and it will be disrespectful to black
people and I say it’s not. I like black people. It’s just a costume and I
don’t want to insult anybody," Sean said.A member of the
school’s PTA, who was also a parent participating in the class project,
said a group of parents inside the classroom agreed that it was
ridiculous for the school to ask Sean to wash his face.“I’ve
never seen anything like this happen before. I’ve always been extremely
proud of the school and where we live. I have two boys here. I’m
extremely disappointed. If my own son, who is blonde, was chosen to do
Martin Luther King, Jr., I would have gotten him a black wig and painted
his face too,” said Pam Page.King-Roca said she ignored the
principal’s request to take Sean’s make-up off and remained in the
classroom waiting for Sean’s presentation.She said when the principal returned to the classroom, she and her husband were asked to come to the principal’s office.“I was upset. I started crying,” said King-Roca.There was a discussion between three school officials, Sean’s parents and Sean, according to King-Roca.King-Roca said she asked what the consequence would be if Sean didn’t take his face paint off and was never given an answer.She said after getting the runaround and rude treatment, she decided to leave the school with Sean.The district said the principal was very accommodating to the parents."We definitely don't want anyone to feel like they're not welcome in the school," said Meredith.
Quoting atlmom2:I personally don't see an issue with it. What is an AA kid dressed up like him? What if he had put paint on his face? Would it still be offensive? When can kids dress up for projects and when can't they? Another politically correct thing.
I agree with you.
My son is in 6th grade, and we talk about this sometimes. He tells me that many people in his class consider just saying the color of someone's skin is racist. I tell him it's not because a person's skin color is part of who they are. If someone has white skin or black skin or brown skin, it is not racist IMO if you say that when you are describing how that person looks.
It frustrates me when being PC goes that far. I think ignoring a person's skin color doesn't eliminate racism. In fact, I think turning a complete blind eye instead of just talking about how we should NOT judge people based on skin color does a disservice to kids. I think recognizing that people can be different but should have equal rights is a more important point that parents and today's society should be getting across to the next generations.
Quoting Barabell:
Quoting atlmom2:I personally don't see an issue with it. What is an AA kid dressed up like him? What if he had put paint on his face? Would it still be offensive? When can kids dress up for projects and when can't they? Another politically correct thing.
I agree with you.
My son is in 6th grade, and we talk about this sometimes. He tells me that many people in his class consider just saying the color of someone's skin is racist. I tell him it's not because a person's skin color is part of who they are. If someone has white skin or black skin or brown skin, it is not racist IMO if you say that when you are describing how that person looks.
It frustrates me when being PC goes that far. I think ignoring a person's skin color doesn't eliminate racism. In fact, I think turning a complete blind eye instead of just talking about how we should NOT judge people based on skin color does a disservice to kids. I think recognizing that people can be different but should have equal rights is a more important point that parents and today's society should be getting across to the next generations.
I agree with everything you just said!!!
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How is a white child supposed to dress up as MLK without black face paint? That's dumb. If the paint wasn't an option, the MLK or any other historical black leader should not have been assigned.
Quoting JenniferP96:How is a white child supposed to dress up as MLK without black face paint? That's dumb. If the paint wasn't an option, the MLK or any other historical black leader should not have been assigned.
I agree. Same with a black kid dressing up as a white historical person. He has to paint his face a tan color.
It says not just teachers but students were offended? Are the students offended because of how they were taught? I hope students, the principal, and teachers learned something from all this, but I doubt it.
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A child weaing black face is insulting. I guess Im the only mother who would find it to be but then again Im black and understand the history of black face. i would never think it's okay to paint my duaghter's face white, but thats just the kind of person Iam and it has alot to do with the way I was raised. Im black my skin skin is not the color black, and I find it very insulting for anyone to paint their face up and try to immitate people with my skin tone. Dont even attempt it, they should know better.
Should you pay your kids not to smoke?
Does sex in the 1st 30 days kill a relationship?
- steveiguana
on May. 16, 2012 at 8:53 PM