Is this racist

[postitgirl]

So DS says some boys at school are picking on him - he's Year 8. Today they had to move places in the classroom and he's ended up beside these 2 'mean' boys. They said to him 'just shut up and go back to Ireland to eat your potatoes'. I think that's racist - or what do you think.

YABU - not racist
YANBU - racist

PS he's Irish - we came over and he started Year 7

It’s xenophobic, anyway.

But you’re posting on the wrong forum, unfortunately.

There was a big exodus of Irish MNers to another site a couple of years ago because of the increasing anti-Irish sentiment and refusal of HQ to do anything about it when posts were being reported.

Very clearly racist.
This needs to be flagged up with the school, so that they can take steps to educate the children about this.

Yes it's racist. Take it straight to the Head of year and don't be fobbed off. Sorry your boy had to experience that.

Offensive. Speak to the school

Not sure if it's racist as such but definitely xenophobic and needs taking up with the school. Hope your DS is ok, those two boys sound like complete twerps.

Definitely racist, please report.

Although if the boys were of a different race to your son then yes could be racist.

No

Were the kids a different race to your son? Sounds more xenophobic

The semantics don't actually matter. They are being hateful to your son about his ethic background, and they need to be told, thats the same as racism, and to pack it in.

It's slightly debatable as to whether it's racist, but that is entirely beside the point.

Stand up for your son and report it.

@BigfatJ

No

And your reasoning is?

Would you think it would be ok to aay to any other nationality, no matter what colour? No.
Speak to school, it's not ok

I wouldn't say racist unless your son is a different race. Xenophobic sounds about right

Of course it is.

I don't think it's racist but is very definitely xenophobic/intolerant .
I would raise this with the school.
I'm sorry that your child is being treated like this .

It’s xenophobic.

It needs reporting. In that situation saying xenophobia vs racist is getting caught in semantics. No students should be being mean about someone's heritage and it needs dealing with seriously by senior members of staff.

Under the Equality Act race is described as:

Race includes—
(a)colour;
(b)nationality;
(c)ethnic or national origins.
(2)In relation to the protected characteristic of race—
(a)a reference to a person who has a particular protected characteristic is a reference to a person of a particular racial group;
(b)a reference to persons who share a protected characteristic is a reference to persons of the same racial group.

Definition of race discrimination:

The Equality Act 2010 says you must not be discriminated against because of your race.

In the Equality Act, race can mean your colour, or your nationality (including your citizenship). It can also mean your ethnic or national origins, which may not be the same as your current nationality. For example, you may have Chinese national origins and be living in Britain with a British passport.

Race also covers ethnic and racial groups. This means a group of people who all share the same protected characteristic of ethnicity or race.

A racial group can be made up of two or more distinct racial groups, for example black Britons, British Asians, British Sikhs, British Jews, Romany Gypsies and Irish Travellers.

From www.equalityhumanrights.com/en/advice-and-guidance/race-discrimination

So, yes, according to the Equality Act they were racist.

Of course it's racism.

Its not racist, but its definitely xenophobic. YANBU. I would definitely be contacting the school. Its a form of bullying, I'd be livid!

Discriminatory yes - racist no!