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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To think my daughter should not have been branded a racist?

198 replies

Nikinakin00 · 25/11/2014 20:42

I'm really not sure what you're all going to say...
My DD is 13 and has a diagnosis for ADHD and also for ASD.
She struggles in school, with her anger and in social situations but we are getting there and she is improving.
Unfortunately, because she is loud and can display inappropriate behaviour, she is always the first one the teacher notices and tells off or blames.
She is used to this now and kind of just accepts it most of the time!
She is very literal and will often refuse to talk to a teacher because she looks like a thumb, laugh at a teachers name that sounds like her favourite ice cream. So she can be immature.
Today in school a girl started taunting her saying she (dd) had problems and saying 'so glad I've not got your problems though' and pulling a face to insinuate she had learning difficulties (iyswim) whilst others laughed. So my Dd jumped up and said "well you're ugly with a squashed nose and you look like a monkey!'
This girl is mixed race (i know this because her mum is known in my town and she is mixed race) and reported a racial attack to the teacher and as a consequence, my daughter was told her behaviour was disgusting and excluded
I only found out when I'd finished work because the school called my parents, who collected her from school and they left me a voicemail.
I've been to the school and the head teacher basically said that the girls family are feuding with another family, it's become quite serious and they think my DD was goaded to make a racial comment to this girl. They also said that they removed her from the situation to protect her getting into further trouble and also the girls mother reports every racial abuse to the police and I'd have them knocking at my door if he hadn't of diffused the situation. This girls mother is coming to the school on Thursday with a solicitor to demand all kinds (not about todays situation) the head basically said any row or anything said to her dd results in racial accusations so I know there is lots going on.
My dd is adamant she wasn't goaded and says that she does look like a monkey and that's why she said it.
My dd's half brother is mixed race as are her cousins, we are not a racist family. I'm so upset that the school have publicly excluded her for racial comments, that they had to call this mother and say that she had been removed and that nothing was said to the girl or her mum about what she had said.
What about the comments she was making to my dd? Why aren't they equally as damaging? My dd has no self esteem, she has self harmed many times, the amount of effort to even get her to school is enough, but to deal with this aswell? She has been doing amazing lately.
The school have said they will have her back tomorrow but she is so upset. It took her 10 minutes to even get in the car because she was having a meltdown on the pavement outside of school. In her eyes, the girl said something bad so dd said something back.
I feel so sorry for her, she is 100% not racist but she as been branded one.
She very openly admits calling her a name and says "she knows it is naughty but it wasn't because of who her mum is and she said bad things to me that I can't help and she knows she has to be told off"
It's heartbreaking for me to see her not understand and I don't think the school have protected her.
Aibu?

OP posts:
ghostspirit · 25/11/2014 22:10

i agree carinthekitchen....

smokepole · 25/11/2014 22:10

OP. I think your DD was not "intentionally" being racist, it just came out as way of saying ,well you may think "im Stupid" but your UGLY. I am sure it was meant that way not in any way Racist. You DD has probably had to put up with bullying since she started at school. It is the type of bullying that teachers don't notice "clever" snide underhand and many times , the bullies get away with "terrible" psychological bullying towards your DD. The reason because of your DDs disabilities on many occasions , she will not be aware of the bullying "name calling" pulling faces towards her. Your DD is an easy target who unfortunately has responded likely after having a lot of snide comments aimed at her "All day and week" no doubt.

OP I used to get bullied for "being Different" (ASD) at school by Boys/Girls and after several days non-stop of it I hit the Boys/Girls who were doing the bullying. I of course got into trouble, with the school and was seen as "the Naughty and Bad Child" The children/pupils who had bullied me for weeks , did not even get told off.

I suspect your DD has been bulied for "weeks" before she has finally "flipped"and said something back (unaware of the racist undertones).

I do wonder though if the posters who are condemning your DD, would have preferred your daughter had hit the "Bully" in the face rather than fight back with words ?

slithytove · 25/11/2014 22:10

Monkey is a racist term for black people.

No black people were involved in this incident.

Therefore I'm confused as to why it's been mentioned and keeps getting brought up by pp.

Op, I would be going into the school to have a conversation and find out exactly what happened. I would probably then make a complaint if as you believe they are acting out of fear of this other parent.

From what you have said I don't think your child should have been excluded or this classed as racist.

I think the conversation you have had about name calling, plus maybe a detention would have sufficed. I would have suggested the same for the other child.

Aeroflotgirl · 25/11/2014 22:10

Yes what op dd was wrong but equally the other girl was being disablist and needs to be equally punished eh funkytown

PrettyBelle · 25/11/2014 22:10

ANYONE can have problems

Well, anyone can be born in a mixed-raced family in that case.

OP's DD has a medical condition, she didn't get it by choice. And it is equally offensive to make derogatory comments on it. It is no less important. Just racism seems to be the hottest issue now.

usualsuspect333 · 25/11/2014 22:12

The other girl was disabilist, which is as bad as being racist.

Get it?

Tammy1212 · 25/11/2014 22:12

Huh? The girl is white? I'm Confused
My best friend has AD so yes I do and yes she was the same in school that doesn't justify her comment
What exactly does "problems" really means?
I can say to you, you have "problems"
You could say the same to me, it really isn't a big insult when you think about it my ex constantly told me I had problems
Problems doesn't have a history of abuse

JamaicanMeCrazy · 25/11/2014 22:13

Tammy rtft ffs

the girl is mixed race CHINESE Confused

Fabulous46 · 25/11/2014 22:13

fabulous, yes they did! Infact they described their family as dangerous.

Then that is completely inappropriate and as I have said all through this thread they have breached confidentiality on this family although most posters choose to ignore this.

If they are breaching confidentiality with this family are they not breaching yours ie telling the family what your issues are?

I still think your daughter is racist and deserves to be punished as does the other girl.

If you are unhappy with the other child punishment then put it in writing to the school. This thread appears to be going round in circles.

Wantsunshine · 25/11/2014 22:14

Tammy I think the girl is Chinese

Tammy1212 · 25/11/2014 22:14

How is she bullied? It was one comment no?

Bumbiscuits · 25/11/2014 22:16

My daughter looks like a monkey. She has huge brown eyes and opens her mouth really wide to do monkey impressions. If it weren't for privacy I'd post a pic and you'd all say, "jeepers, that kid looks like a fucking monkey". Am I a racist?

Tammy1212 · 25/11/2014 22:16

Oh omg sorry I apologise
I thought she was mixed race black

slithytove · 25/11/2014 22:16

I think you clearly do have problems Tammy.

Firstly, the comment wasn't racist, it was not directed towards a black person.

Secondly, even if the person were black, op has said it wouldn't be racial in intent as her dd has autism so she doesn't have the same social cues as others. This doesn't justify it but maybe explains it.

Calling a child with autism a spaz I think is more offensive than saying a mixed race Chinese person has a squashed nose.

Aeroflotgirl · 25/11/2014 22:16

The girl was bullying op dd, she knew she would get a reaction and she did. Sounds like a nasty spiteful girl tbh. If she Haden't been bullying op dd, op dd would not have said tgat comment.

riveravon23 · 25/11/2014 22:17

OP, I wish I had constructive advice for you but you do have my sympathy and understanding, as does your DD. I have children on the autism spectrum, one with a severe form of ADHD and Tourettes. I think your example using the animal pet names/insults describes thinks absolutely perfectly, and highlights how crazy our world is, if you see things differently. Sometimes I even think those on the autism spectrum are right, they so often get straight to the point where the rest of us would not.

How you describe your daughter's difficulties, is exactly the same as one of my children who, some years ago, was in an almost identical situation. He had been bullied for his Tourettes and facial tics (sadly some of the teachers almost bordered on this, as he was often told Tourettes and ADHD is not an excuse for his fidgeting and bad language). One day, my son fought back after the boy had called him a "fucking mental, white bastard", my son responded with "you're a fucking black bastard." He was excluded for racism, for which there is zero tolerance in the school. The other boy was, apparently, not racist and there were no sanctions for bullying a child with disabilities. As we could not move forward, we had to withdraw my son from the school. However, I see you usually do have a good relationship with the school, and so would, I assume, not need to take such drastic measures. But I do sincerely wish you well, and so understand, and hope your daughter will soon be okay. It's so difficult isn't it?

Good luck, seems you are doing a fantastic job!

Nikinakin00 · 25/11/2014 22:17

Tammy She called her a spaz and said I'm glad I don't have your problems. She then pulled a face that would back up the insult.
When you've met one person with autism, you've met one person.
The girls mum is mixed race Chinese.

OP posts:
ThereIsACarInTheKitchen · 25/11/2014 22:17

How is she bullied? It was one comment no?

A disablist comment.

slithytove · 25/11/2014 22:17

Xp - rtft before attacking next time, it's been said loads of times the child isn't black.

Aeroflotgirl · 25/11/2014 22:18

In the future she should keep,her nasty mouth shut!

x2boys · 25/11/2014 22:18

I have a son with asd.and learning difficulties I would find it extremely offensive if somebody took the piss out of my sons disabilities, what o daughter said might be racist but did she mean it to be racist she has disabilities ffs the other girl apparently doesnt yes op dd needs to know what she said was wrong but its hardly an equal slanging match !

Tammy1212 · 25/11/2014 22:18

So why are the school saying its racist?

Funkytown · 25/11/2014 22:19

aero did I not say she should be punished

Boomtownsurprise · 25/11/2014 22:19

Direct to op

Fwiw I don't think in this instance racist applies.

Contact your/school pastoral care. Maybe repost in mental health or a children's special needs board. There must be one here.

You are in aibu. This can be a highly inflammatory board. You may not reach those that are knowledgeable in assisting you.

I wish you and your daughter well. But you need to source help not opinion.

Good luck. Give her a hug from me. She must be confused and scared.
Flowers

Mumoftwoyoungkids · 25/11/2014 22:19

Both race and disability are protected characteristics. The two comments are equally as bad. But

  1. The other girl made the first comment
  2. Your daughter is vulnerable and didn't understand that the comment could be construed as racist
  3. If the other girl is mixed race Chinese then if your daughter wanted to make a racist comment then there are other more common ones.

FWIW I work with a bloke who looks like a lizard. He isn't green, he doesn't have scales, he doesn't have a huge tongue that catches flies. He doesn't have a tail. But every time I see him my mind still instinctively goes "lizard".