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 JenniferP96:
It seems like the bigger problem is our own racism, even if we don't recognize it. Racism is so ingrained in our society that we don't even recognize it when it is smacking us in the face. We are placing our own hang ups on a child who was proud and interested in being as much like an amazing leader as possible, including looking like him. There was no insult involved. That is just us as adults putting our racist tinted views on a kid. When I was little, all of my friends were black. I am about as pale white as you get, but I didn't see a difference between us. When I started preschool, I was asked to draw a pic of myself before I got to school. I drew myself as black, like my friends. My teachers were quite surprised when a pale little white girl showed up! I did not learn about these so called differences until I was growing up and saw them in our history lessons and the world around me. This little boy did his best to become the hero he was assigned. Shame on the adults at school and here on CM for putting such a negative view on his work. YOU are the problem, not this child!
Quoting TAG2.0:
Quoting atlmom2:SO, IF he had a dark brown face they wouldn't have reacted the same? I think so. The people that threw a fit would have no matter what. Its the kind of people they are. Like I said, too bad everyone can't stay innocent little kids like this 2nd grader.
We will never know now will we? Im still stuck on the fact that black parents dont do this to their children.
Quoting 504bbymami:
And are you finding lots of examples of white people doing this?
Quoting TAG2.0:
Quoting atlmom2:SO, IF he had a dark brown face they wouldn't have reacted the same? I think so. The people that threw a fit would have no matter what. Its the kind of people they are. Like I said, too bad everyone can't stay innocent little kids like this 2nd grader.
We will never know now will we? Im still stuck on the fact that black parents dont do this to their children.
Actually yeah, which is quite sad. Just google kids in blacksface.
Quoting TAG2.0:
Quoting atlmom2:SO, IF he had a dark brown face they wouldn't have reacted the same? I think so. The people that threw a fit would have no matter what. Its the kind of people they are. Like I said, too bad everyone can't stay innocent little kids like this 2nd grader.
We will never know now will we? Im still stuck on the fact that black parents dont do this to their children.
Your stuck, yep, that is true.
Come join me at The Duggars Debate, The Good, The Bad and the Ugly
if you can't understand that, then you're part of the problem.
Quoting TAG2.0:
Quoting activitymode:
He is a second grade child. I think that in this circumstance a few people overreacted. Its unfortunate because it sounds like the kid was really excited to present his project.
Then be mad at the parents. I have yet to find a story where a black parent has painted their kid's face white for a school project. IDK, maybe because it's a common sense thing, Im not sure why black people dont paint their kids faces white to represent whites.
Quoting atlmom2:
Quoting TAG2.0:
Quoting atlmom2:SO, IF he had a dark brown face they wouldn't have reacted the same? I think so. The people that threw a fit would have no matter what. Its the kind of people they are. Like I said, too bad everyone can't stay innocent little kids like this 2nd grader.
We will never know now will we? Im still stuck on the fact that black parents dont do this to their children.
Your stuck, yep, that is true.
Well find a newstory to disprove that then atlanta.
Quoting 504bbymami:
Why are people so hell bent on keeping racism alive and getting offended over everything? I just don't get it.
Exactly. I knew a couple AA ladies on another message board. They were so bad. When her kids learned to talk and understand she taught her children that they will be looked upon bad from white people. She told them to look all the time and watch how bad they would be treated by white people. They said they might as well learn from a young age how cruel and awful the world was. Personally, I think the mothers were the awful cruel people.
HOW awful is that????
Come join me at The Duggars Debate, The Good, The Bad and the Ugly
Quoting activitymode:
Calm down, I'm not mad at anyone. I just think its sad that the kid was obviously excited about his presentation and ADULTS decided that he meant to be offending in his actions instead of just being a kid excited to be MLK.
if you can't understand that, then you're part of the problem.
Iam clam, me saying that doesnt mean Im mad. You upset about the child's excitement being taken away, you should be upset with the parents for poor judgement, it's their fault.
Extreme Moms: seriously?
am i wrong
- steveiguana
on May. 16, 2012 at 8:53 PM