Is this little boy racist?

[mydogishot]

My friend was looking after her neighbours son whilst she had appt.
My friend was to drop the boy to nursery and his mum would collect him afterwards.
We were going out after so I walked to nursery with them, I do know boy and he knows me!
When we got there a lady in full face veil was dropping her child.

Boy pointed at her, started laughing and calling her bad.

I was shocked, knee down to ask him why he said that. He shrugged and said it's true, that's why her face is covered.

He is 4 (nearly 5).

We live in London (so very multicultural).

Should my friend talk to his mum?
I'm worried she'll find out something she doesn't want to know!?

His parents or other people in his life have taught him this
Dont blame the child
Blame his parents

I know it's not his fault but he will be the one who suffers when he'll get suspended for racist behaviour.

Friend is not sure how to broach the subject.
I've said I'll do it. I'm very straight forward "your son said this awful thing in front of me" but my friend wants to go delicately.

I tell my children that some women are so powerful that their husbands are scared of them and make them hide their magic on big black blankets.

Windoqssmindows What?

Why wouldnt you just say its their choice what they wear and this is what makes them comfortable.

Not everyone who wears a burka or niqab is forced to.by a husband.

Could be something he’s been told, could be something he’s just decided himself, who knows. Maybe best to just tell the mother exactly what happened, what he said and not add in your thoughts. Her reaction to that will probably be telling enough.

I’m all for a good story but the one about the magic in black blankets is very odd!

Fucking hell windows. A child won’t get suspended for comments like that, they will just do some work with him on tolerance, acceptance and understanding other cultures. Kids are bonkers, they say batshit stuff all the time. Either that or their parents are arsehole racists in which case talking to them probably won’t make any difference.

WindowsSmindows

What the fuck?! You have issues. Educate your child. Many women, intelligent, respected, independent women, wear this due to THEIR beliefs.

He was surprised I was asking why he said it. I hope it's not the norm in his house.

I always told my kids, everyone is different. Different is good, colour, shape, size, clothes, beliefs and choice.
If we were all the same, the world would be dull.

My son said something similar. Turns out he thought she was a ninja like in the teenage turtles cartoon as she was in a black “ninja suit” as he saw it.

Kids say weird things sometimes. Im not racist at all but my kid has come out with things that could be perceived as racist (and have made me cringe). He referred to sandles as 'brown children shoes' and shouted excitedly 'ninja people!' at some Chinese people. Mortified.

Fucking hell.

I don’t think he is being racist ; he may have seen a cartoon or something where the baddie covers their face with a mask or something and that’s what he’s referencing.

If he’s surrounded by good people like you then I’m sure he won’t end up racist

He saw a covered face and equated it to a baddie in a cartoon.

And I wouldn't say it's racist - as Islam isn't a race - and not all Muslims are tolerant (that's not the right word but it's late) of women who cover their faces.

I was gonna say could it be because he's mistaking it for a balaclava like in cartoons etc?

Yep, sounds like something my 5 yr old would come out with in the context of his much loved ninja movies.

It could be but it could also be something innocent.
The first thing that popped into my mind was cowboys. The bad ones often cover their faces with a handkerchief just as they are about to rob the train. Bank robbers in movies also usually hide their faces.
It might just be age inappropriate things he's watched and made associations with.
Mention it to the parent.

When I read this the first thing I thought was robber. Because that's what my son probably thinks.
But I don't think he's ever encountered someone wearing one. So I have yet to see what wonderful phrases he comes out with.

I don’t think it’s racist. At 4 it could mean anything really!

Dropping*

Could be nursery in school. My son just finished full time nursery at 4 and started reception today.

Some kids don’t start school until next week

Not racist. How do you know what race she was if she had a full face veil on?

I think to be racism you need to understand race, anyway. Most 4 year olds have a fairly basic understanding of what race is. They understand that we are different colours, but in terms of labelling certain people as 'bad'? That sounds like copying behaviour to me.

Kids also say funny things sometimes. It could have been in relation to something completely innocent.

I would be very careful before you start labelling a 4 year old as racist.

The child is 4. Children say daft things.

Why on earth would you start labelling a 4 year old a “racist”.

Agree with above posters that he has probably mistaken her for a baddie.

Cartoon/animators have done no favours by making baddies look the same all dark cloaked etc. Maybe explain it like 'I'm sure your son didn't mean it in any way but he said this.....' and let the mum deal with it. It's a good opportunity to open a healthy discussion about how people can wear what they want and bad people come in all types of clothing.