After a bout of racist/bullying at school, I bought my niece (carribean/white frizzy ringlets-GORGEOUS) a "my family" paint your own tshirt from Kids of Colour (www.ofcolour.co.uk). Her mother sat with her while she painted her family members (mummy brown, daddy white, brother pale brown her slightly darker-they even had curly extensions for my sister HILARIOUS).
On none uniform day she proudly walked into school head high curls blowing in the breeze!!! After school she came home and asked
K:"where did aunty XXX get my tshirt from"
M:"why"
K: "oh nothing...... only Kelly-Anne said she liked it!!!!"
Kelly Anne is no longer picks on my niece and my niece gave her a tshirt as a recent birthday present.
The lesson it has taught me is "kids will be kids" but we must educate them in a way they understand. Also our children should be confident and show that they are "PROUD TO BE DIFFERENT......!!!"