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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

Is this racist

244 replies

postitgirl · 23/06/2021 18:52

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

OP posts:

newnortherner111 · 23/06/2021 19:21

Yes I think it is.

Some of us are old enough to remember 'no dogs, no blacks, no Irish'.

Spandrel · 23/06/2021 19:21

‘White Irish’ is an ethnic group within the census, so yes, it’s bullying on ethnic grounds, AKA racism, although the bully and the bullied may both be Caucasian. And it’s still in incredibly prevalent, in my experience of living in the UK for over 20 years.

tempester28 · 23/06/2021 19:23

Xenophobic, not racist but of course not ok. I would definitely ask for him to be moved away from them.

Bellyups · 23/06/2021 19:24

It’s xenophobic. Not racist

Tossblanket · 23/06/2021 19:24

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

Original poster

postitgirl · 23/06/2021 19:28

the two boys saying this to him are asian. I wasn't going to mention that as it's not really relevant but since some of you brought it up...

OP posts:

Longestfewdaysupcoming · 23/06/2021 19:32

Racist as per equality act as others have said. Take it to the school.

SchrodingersImmigrant · 23/06/2021 19:33

@postitgirl

the two boys saying this to him are asian. I wasn't going to mention that as it's not really relevant but since some of you brought it up...

It doesn't matter really

Drunkenmonkey · 23/06/2021 19:36

Of course it is racist. It's interesting firstly how people just assume the bullies are white, but it doesn't matter what colour their skin is.

Coronawireless · 23/06/2021 19:38

The real point here is that the boys were being unpleasant to him. What they said was calculated to annoy. If it wasn’t his nationality it might have been his appearance or his schoolwork or his sporting ability of his sexuality. Focusing on the exact wording of what they said is beside the point and will not get to the heart of the matter. (Unless they have a history of specifically being anti-Irish and campaigning against Irish students which is unlikely).

Coronawireless · 23/06/2021 19:39

*or his sexuality

NameyNameyNameChangey · 23/06/2021 19:46

@Funnylittlefloozie

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.

Exactly this. Racism/Xenophobia or just being twats, it's not acceptable and they need to know that.

touma · 23/06/2021 19:48

I'd talk to the school about this. Whether it's racism or xenophobia, either way it's offensive and discriminatory, based on nothing else other than where your son was born. Absolutely needs to be dealt with.

StoneofDestiny · 23/06/2021 19:52

Of course report it. It needs dealing with.

NameyNameyNameChangey · 23/06/2021 19:52

@Tossblanket

Nothing will be done about it because he's white and male.

If someone said go back to Africa and eat fried chicken it would probably be front page news.

This isn't true. Most places will come down hard on xenophobic comments against for example Eastern Europeans/Germans. I don't see the difference and nor would most schools.

toocold54 · 23/06/2021 19:52

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.

I agree.
It doesn’t matter if the bots saying it are white, black, Asian etc. At that age they often say hurtful things without realising just how hurtful it can be so they definitely need to be spoken to by their head of year. It’s best to nip these things in the bud.

ilovesooty · 23/06/2021 19:53

@LolaSmiles

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.

Agreed. Totally unacceptable.

toocold54 · 23/06/2021 19:56

If someone said go back to Africa and eat fried chicken it would probably be front page news.

@Tossblanket
Things like this are said every day in schools, in the workplace etc and have been for decades. Just because people are now talking more about it doesn’t take anything away from you so relax.

It is time for all schools to have a zero tolerance policy (and back it up) on racism.

isitjustlockdown · 23/06/2021 19:59

Under the equalities act, this would come under the definition of prejudice due to race.

Technically I believe it would be xenophobic, as based on the child's country of nationality rather than their race.

However, from a school's point of view, in this case, the distinction between racism and xenophobia should be a moot point in how it is dealt with. Most schools will operate a zero-tolerance approach, and this should be handled extremely;y seriously.

LibertyMole · 23/06/2021 20:00

It’s amazing how many people think they can announce things not to be racist despite it being clearly set out in the Equality Act and international conventions that it is racist.

Jasmine11 · 23/06/2021 20:02

@postitgirl

the two boys saying this to him are asian. I wasn't going to mention that as it's not really relevant but since some of you brought it up...

Ok well then yes they were being racist and the school needs to be involved.

SchrodingersImmigrant · 23/06/2021 20:11

The real point here is that the boys were being unpleasant to him. What they said was calculated to annoy.

They are not calculated to annoy, but to intimidate and show you are according to them less.
Annoying things are said all the time on prupose. Fine. Intimidation is not

Trinidading3 · 23/06/2021 20:16

This is definitely racist and no place for this in Schools. Go to speak to the Head or send a strong email to Head. Do not leave it as it will get worse and continue. You need to make the Head aware and it needs to be actioned.

anon12345678901 · 23/06/2021 20:55

@LibertyMole

It’s amazing how many people think they can announce things not to be racist despite it being clearly set out in the Equality Act and international conventions that it is racist.

This.

OP it is racist yes, under the very definition of racism.

Gullible2021 · 23/06/2021 21:21

@LibertyMole

It’s amazing how many people think they can announce things not to be racist despite it being clearly set out in the Equality Act and international conventions that it is racist.

Well said! It's extremely frustrating to read.

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