May 18, 2012
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A Colorado Springs elementary school will implement diversity training after some faculty members were offended by a second-grade white child who painted his face black to honor the Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. for a class project.
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Sean King, an eight-year-old student at Meridian Ranch Elementary School, had been assigned to dress up as a historical figure for what the school called “Wax Museum Day.
His mother told television station KRDO that he wore a black suit, a black tie, a white shirt and a mustache. He also wanted to paint his face black. She said her son was very excited about the project.
Michelle King-Roca and her husband were among the parents who had been invited to watch the classroom presentations – and that’s when they learned that Sean’s tribute to MLK had gotten him into trouble.
“Right before it was time to come in (to the classroom), the principal came up and stated he (Sean) was to take the face mask off,” King-Roca told the television station. “There was a person in the faculty who had a problem with it.”
Stephanie Meredith, a spokesperson for the school, told Fox News that several staff members were offended by the little boy’s tribute to MLK.
“A staff member stated that a black face painted like that is offensive to some of the African-American community,” Meredith said, noting that not a single student had complained. “We were trying to make sure that the learning environment is a safe and secure environment for every student and every educator in our building.”
“The principal explained this could conjure up a painful past for the African-American community,” she said. “Makeup could be hurtful to others.”
The one item everyone can agree on – neither Sean nor his parents meant to be offensive.
“Clearly it was not the intent of the parents or the student at all to be offensive,” Meredith said. “We never thought that a second grader was trying to be offensive or was trying to be hurtful in any way.”
King-Roca said the principal instructed the boy to remove his face paint.
“They thought it was inappropriate and it will be disrespectful to black people and I say it’s not,” Sean told KRDO. “I like black people. It’s just a costume and I don’t want to insult anybody.”
Other parents chimed in and said the principal’s request was ridiculous.
“I’ve never seen anything like this happen before,” parent Pam Page told the television station. “I’m extremely disappointed. If my own son, who is blonde, was chosen to do Martin Luther King, Jr., I would have gotten him a black wig and painted his face, too.”
Meredith said the parents chose not to remove the face paint – and decided to take their son home.
“We are sad the parents were so upset and felt isolated,” she said. “We didn’t ask the parents or the student to leave.”
But King-Roca told local media that they were asked by the school district to leave the property. She said school officials treated them rudely.
Meredith said the child was not punished and is back in school.
“We’re hoping this can be an opportunity to open up dialogue and discussion about different people’s cultures and their experiences,” she said.
And that’s where the Colorado Springs chapter of the NAACP comes into the story.
“Unfortunately, by having blackface as part of his presentation, it ended up harkening back to a really tragic time in the life of this country, a time when blackface was used by entertainers primarily to demean African-Americans, and in a way I know this young man couldn’t have intended,” NAACP president Rosemary Harris Lytle told the television station.
She did say that she was proud of the child for deciding to portray the slain civil rights leader.
As a result of the incident, Meredith said they are going to work with the NAACP to develop “diversity training.”
FOX News Talk
So ridiculous
oh pullleeez! ridiculous indeed!
Oh get the F over it. I am so tired of all these thin skinned a…..holes.
OK, so if you're not thin-skinned, you won't mind if somebody burns a Bible, stomps on the American flag, or acts like a flaming homosexual in front of your kids, right? Or is it only thin-skinned when someone else is offended?
Erik. Your are an idiot. First of all that was the assignment. To portrait a historical figure you admire. This young white kid chose MLK. Get a clue.
Second, as a 30 year ombat veteran, Puerto Rican' Mormon. Call me a spick don't care. Burn a bible, don't care that is between you and God. Act like a flamming homo in front of my kids, what the hell does that mean. Burn an American flag in front of me that is your right as long as you remember it is my right to beat your ass for it.
The assignment was NOT to show up in blackface. The Grand Wizard of the KKK is a historical figure. Is it cool if a kid shows up as that?
Just as I suspected, you have a double standard when it comes to being thin-skinned. When someone does something you find offensive, you feel the right to use violence. When someone else is offended (and only complains, doesn't even threaten to use violence), they are being a "thin skinned a… hole".
You are the thin skinned a-hole Eric…
I never said I was offended by the blackface, Cathy. All I'm saying is that it is not surprising that some people are, given the history of the use of that makeup. It's equivalent to burning a flag in front of a veteran or burning Bible in front of a Christian. As adults, we have the right to do these things, but that doesn't mean we should do them. And we should not teach our kids to do these things, either.
Wow Erik dude grow up and realize a Joke. You are just being dumb. You are a flaming libtard that just needs to find the stupidity in a great situation. It was a wax figure assignment. Don't celebrate that a white child chose a black leader to admire. No choose to be thin skinned when a 3rd grader Does something that in your simple mind is offensively.
Stupid phone. Sorry for the typos.
I was going to let this go. I am tired and need sleep, but I just can't.
Erik wrote " OK, so if you're not thin-skinned, you won't mind if somebody burns a Bible, stomps on the American flag, or acts like a flaming homosexual in front of your kids, right? Or is it only thin-skinned when someone else is offended?"
That is the moronic thinking of people like Erik. He somehow equates a child's desire to celebrate the life of a great man like MLK based on an assignment he received in school, to the burning of the bible, the stomping on our nations flag or someone acting like a flaming homosexual in front of my child.
This person cannot see the differences in his very comment.
Really Erik, you can't see the difference? Your sad desire to be offended is what is wrong with our country today. Why be offended by this young's child wearing of face paint? Because of some long past actions of a few. Maybe it's time to get over all this oh I am offended crap. We can't move forward unless we forgive the past.
I did not say I was offended. When did I say I was offended?
You said that the people were thin-skinned and I correctly pointed out that there are perfectly legal activities that offend you (and in fact would cause you commit a felony). I agree that it is a good thing to "get over all this oh I am offended crap" though I will let black people decide when it is no longer bad manners to wear blackface. And I'll continue to avoid desecrating the flag because it might get through your obviously very thin skin.
Erik, the only thing you pointed out correctly is that you are the type of person that had this kid sent home. Your examples are moot because they have nothing to do with this situation and are actual acts of violence. Your third example could be seen as offensive, but i know my gay friends would just laugh it off. The most telling thing about you is how you keep harping on a joke to make your point while ignoring the rest of my comments. You dude are a dumb-ass. No one complained according to the article. The teachers, you know the ones that handed out the assignment, were the ones to get all bent out of shape.
Really do you think that people today remember white people with painted faces singing mammy? I hardly think so. Hell most of the young kids I ask today don't even know the Rolling Stones.
People like you choose to be offended, need to be offended. What if your comments today offended me. I am Puerto Rican. Being attacked by a white guy can be offensive. Sad part is you can't see just how ridiculous you are. You are a very sad person. In time, hopefully, people like you will go the way of the dodo.
You sound like Obama now…On the building of the mosque @ ground Zero…"They have the right but it doesn't mean they should"…is the wishy washy swishy reply…Take a stand, man up…The kid ment no harm and it was an assignment…
Gerry Hall Right on Gerry! Being offended at every nuance and telling everyone to accept your definition of what is right is PC gone MAD! No wonder the gov't is stuck on my way or the highway…It is what their constituants are demanding!
I am not offended. How many times do I need to repeat myself? You keep saying that, but it is not true.
I am just saying that teachers and parents need to teach their kids to be aware of how things are perceived. I won't let my kids show up to school in white robes and pointy hats and neither should the teachers. I won't let my kids wipe their butts with the Book of Mormon (or the Quran or Bible or Upanishads). All of those things would be rude, and so is showing up for school in blackface. Some day, that won't be a problem (and neither will white robes and pointy hats), but I don't think that day is today.
I am also saying that every time a liberal gets offended by something (fairly minor) like this, the right-wingers get all bent out of shape about "PC". But whenever somebody does something like burn a flag or desecrate a holy book, then there is foaming at the mouth and death threats. I've had my life threatened numerous times by right wingers (not for doing those things, but merely for disagreeing with their ideas). There is a double-standard (generally). I'm pleased you retracted your threat of violence if someone burned a flag. I hope you go on Fox News and tell people to lighten up and quit being thin-skinned whenever that happens.
Ha. I knew it. Erik is one of those blame fox losers. Erik's is so full of crap his eyes are brown. He still does not get it so it is time to ignore the ignorant.
Erik Jensen you can burn a bible and homosexual can be flaming, but BURNING the American flag is wrong. You live in a country and have the freedoms you do because the great men and women have fought for what that flag stands for. So no it is not ok to burn or disgrace the American flag. Anyone who shall disgrace it or the meaning of it should be punished completely or get the fuck out of America and go live in another country where you don't have the same freedoms that we do here.
Erik Jensen you can burn a bible and homosexual can be flaming, but BURNING the American flag is wrong. You live in a country and have the freedoms you do because the great men and women have fought for what that flag stands for. So no it is not ok to burn or disgrace the American flag. Anyone who shall disgrace it or the meaning of it should be punished completely or get the fuck out of America and go live in another country where you don't have the same freedoms that we do here.
BS!
but millions of people paid good money to see michael jackson get whiter by the moment. we cannot keep changing life and making rules because somebody is offended. someone is always offended by anything.
lets see adults offended by something an eight year old did out of respect for someone else. Yea I.m sure these staff members r loosing sleep and haveing nitemares over this.
Ditto Johnny… this is PC crap at it's worst. What kind of b l a c k American wouldn't feel proud that a little white kid wanted to honor such a man! How juvenile!!
This was a project handed out by the teacher to dress up as a historical figure for what the school called “Wax Museum Day". If they do not want these types of things to happen then they should not have these type of events. I agree that people need to get over this whole BS. Give me a break, they dressed kids up like our founding fathers to re-enact other parts of our history, do you think that they just chose the white kids to do the roles, um no. If you don't stop bring up the past, you will never move into the future.
Would it be okay for the kids to show up in KKK or Black Panther outfits? That's part of our history as well.
Erik Jensen Speaking of Black Panthers…Yes it is OK…They get to intimidate all they want!
really going to put the KKK and MLK on the same level?
What does the KKK or the Black Panthers have to do with a re-enactment of our found fathers????? I don't even know why you would even bring that up. . If you don't stop bring up the past, you will never move into the future. GET OVER THE PAST AND LEAVE IT THERE, SICK OF HEARING ABOUT ABOUT PEOPLE BEING OFFENDED. GET OVER IT PEOPLE MOVE ON AND LEARN TO BE HAPPY THAT WE HAVE THE FREEDOMS WE DO UNLIKE OTHER COUNTRIES.
The KKK and Black Panthers are part of our history. So is putting on blackface. For the record, I am not offended by blackface. But I can see why people would be. It was used during performances to perpetuate stereotypes. I would not allow my kids to do it, just as I wouldn't allow them to dress up like historically accurate KKK or Black Panthers.
If you think MLK was a founding father, then you need to read a history book, Michelle.
I never said anything about MLK, I am just saying these are kids playing dress up, just like Halloween. Let it go there are much worse things out there to fight over then kids playing dress up for some classroom event! I am not offended by what he did, nor would I have been if a black kid would have put white make on his face. All I am saying is that this whole RACIAL thing is getting out of control, people need to lighten up.
Erik Jensen Eric doesn't know what he is taking about because he has no children….He thinks raising kids is like raising dogs…'a shameful part of our past' is his white guilt showing and he just needs a little more koolaid and he'll be like Nancy and Harry…They never do wrong and say the most off the wall things and it is everyone else' fault!
Michelle, you keep evading my point. Is is OK to show up as a KKK Grand Wizard or should people "lighten up" as you would put it?
Cathy, I do have kids. They are not allowed to wear KKK uniforms or blackface. Go ahead and let yours, but don't be surprised if people take it the wrong way. I don't have any "white guilt", but I do have manners and I teach my kids them.
Erik Jensen Good because you do not appear to have any. Your oversensitivity to this kid's assignment is exactly why we are where we are at in this country with regard to race…It should be made irrelevant by all the 'leveling of the field" we have done but we still want more guilt…Now Obama has designed special structures for schools that say blacks can't be punished for the same infraction as whites, asians and hispanics…and there will be the new federal guidelines for grading students as well…based on race! Thanks Eric! Your 'manners' have taken the country to the ash heap…Keep your guilt and I'll keep my freedom and dress up for kids…
Cathy Gardino, OK you can keep wearing your KKK uniform.
Erik Jensen this was not about the KKK, if it was then yeah fine let the kids wear the outfit I have no issues with it or if someone dresses as a black person, Asian person, Jewish person, Mexican person or any other race. They don't teach things the proper way in school any ways, so why not learn about all of the history. Why not teach about Hitler and what he did, most people have a misconceived opinion about him and everything he was about. He helped to make a great car, the VW for the people, which is why it was called the peoples car. There was so much more I could go on, but you can read it for yourself. Most people just believe what they have been told by word of mouth instead of looking up themselves. All I am saying is I am sick to death of hearing EVERYONE pull the race card. It’s old and played out and needs to be stopped. SO yes Lighten up.
OK, Michelle, the fact that you don't mind if kids dress however they like is great, but I think it is understandable that some people do mind. Are you OK with my kids dressing up for Halloween at school in a priest's outfit with a sign that says "I'm a pedophile"? How about a gay Jesus outfit or kids carrying around a "piss Christ"? That kind of stuff sure seems to get the legions here all foaming at the mouth. I hope you'll tell everyone on Fox News to lighten up whenever they get all upset over something insulting to their religion.
Dude you needa Xanax, you go from KKK and MLK to now priests, pedophiles to christ. Is there anything that you won't stop bitching about and stick to the topic at hand? I mean you all over the board, not just my thread bitchen abut anything and everything, your like an internet troll. WTF Yes I will tell FOX News to relax and I have when I believe in something. Why not stick to the topic at hand?????????????????????
Erik Jensen you are a feraking dork eric…
It's not like he was doing "black face" to be offensive. No one seemed to ever care when Jimmy Fallon would get his face painted black to do his Chris Rock impression (which was a very good impression and he actually sounds just like him btw). So what – white kids can't be MLK? Idk…
I guess its ok for Eddie Murphy to dress as a white man, or an elderly Jew, or as a morbidly obese woman, its ok. Or the Wayans brothers disguised as blonde haired and blue eyed white girls, that's ok. But a little kid wanting to emulate MLK in a school presentation is not ok? Its not like this kid had any racist intentions, he wanted to fit the role anyway possible to honor King, bless his heart. I happened to perform the "I have a dream" speech in the 10th grade, and was chosen only for the fact than I tanned complected and whore a wig. No one complained back then. Seems like the kid just wanted to stay true to MLK in an honest way. No harm. I'm not offended in the least.
See Murphy and the Wayans are African Americans but the little boy is white. African Americans are allowed to make fun of and ridicule whites in any way they please but whites must be careful not to offend African Americans even when making a tribute. African Americans are a protected class of people in America. Whites are the evil oppressors and part of the privilege class. Most whites can't see all of this because of their arrogance. Certain whites think they can see it and they are called Liberals. However if they went to racial sensitivity class they would learn that they are no better than any other white. They are actually worse because they arrogantly think they aren't racist. It is all very complicated. Anyway certain made up privileges are given to African Americans (ones that everyone can see) to try to make up the difference. For instance you can use pronouns to describe a group of whites but not for African Americans. With African Americans you have to type it all the way out. Little things like that help make African Americans feel good about themselves at the expense of whites. It is all very fair.
You whored a wig?
I have no doubt that this boy and his family had the best intentions.
But I can see how some would be offended by the makeup on his face. I'm not, but I'm also not black. The boy should not be punished, but its understandable that the school gets some diversity and racial sensitivity training.
When obama gets unseated in November,you better gets some training.On how to protect your family from the mobs. Better wake the hell up.Bozo.
I think we need a little racial toughening up training…Stop being offended at every effing thing!
I think we need a little racial toughening up training…Stop being offended at every effing thing!
It's not about being offended, it's about teaching kids to have some class. The history of painting "blackface" is that it was used to stereotype and degrade black people as part of a racist system that kept them from voting, having a good job, or attending a good school. The kid is innocent of any malicious intent, but that doesn't make it okay. Showing up for school in a white robe and pointy hood wouldn't be cool, either.
But,…if a black kid donned a powdered wig and whiteface…that would be fine…It is BS…period.
Cathy Gardino, that would be tacky, but it wouldn't be the same thing because there is no historic association with a shameful part of our past. There is nothing inherently wrong with white robes and pointy hats, either, but I wouldn't want kids showing up for school in those.
You are a al sharpton wanna be. When the shit hits the fan,as it soon will.I hope your ass-kissing cracker ass gets what they are going to give you.Cause they will. But dont ask for no help from your own brothers. You are not deserving. Hood rat.
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What was the offense? That he chose to portray a black man instead of his own colored, I applaud this child for his recognition of one of our great black leaders and that his family showed grace of equality and education to this child, I would love to follow him as he gets older to see how this has a.
ffected his life down the line.
My fellow Americans who are white, please to do not fall for the white-guilt thing…again! You are a great people. While you meant well in '08, the wrong person won. Let's get our country back on track.
I am black, but I am voting for the white guy — not because he is white. I am voting for Romney because Romney loves my country.
Read more: http://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2012/10/prepare_for_shock-and-awe_white_guilt.html?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=facebook#ixzz2AhKq1AQZ.
yeah we don't need another 4 years and worse debt.
yeah we don't need another 4 years and worse debt.