Boy, 7, branded a racist for asking schoolmate: 'Are you brown because you come from Africa?' | Mail Online

What will this foster? Fear. Fear of otherness. Fear of even speaking or asking people about things which differ from one's own experience. The result? More misunderstanding. More misinformation. More division. Less understanding. Less desire to learn or understand differences.

'It seems the matter has been taken out of all proportion and common sense seems to have gone completely out of the window.'

Yeah, no @!$%#.

Last year, it was revealed that teachers are branding thousands of children racist or homophobic following playground squabbles.

More than 20,000 pupils aged 11 or younger were put on record for so-called hate crimes such as using the word 'gaylord'.

Just freaking wow.

Protect your kids from the PC police folks lest they end up labeled and wrongly carry the stigma of those labels at the tender ages of 7-11.

And people wonder why home schooling is on the rise.

More than 20,000 pupils aged 11 or younger were put on record for so-called hate crimes such as using the word ‘gaylord’.

Someone calls someone else the name of a GREAT pitcher (Gaylord Perry) and all they can think of is homophobe??!! Come on get real!

Edit: The same thing about a child's curiosity over physical differences between them and others. I don't know how often I've had kids staring and asking questions about my missing leg.

A 7 yr old white kid asks a 5 yr old black kid a question .... was it insensitive? I ask... if the white child sees nothing wrong with either skin color and the black kid sees nothing wrong with either skin color ...how can it possibly be insensitive?

I was thinking it may be insensitive because if the EA child sees nothing wrong with skin color then the concept is something that he should not feel the need to question. The idea that he questioned it is...questionable.

Did the 5 yr old even understand the question? Did the 5 YEAR OLD even know what Africa was and how it might be relative to skin color... I don't know....

Well we know that the 7 year old EA child knows what "Africa" is and its usual relationship to skin color but it could be argued that the child is insensitive to automatically equate the Continent with skin color considering light skinned people live there too. And to ask the AA child about possible origins is not very good as a question unless he is asking other EA children about possible origins from Europe; the single question to the AA child may imply racial misinformation about the relationship with race and immigration/regional origin.

Judging this is becoming more difficult as I think about it. Maybe they were right. Maybe they were not. I think their reactions were too excessive but it is possible that their initial suspicions were good enough to question his motives. I could be mistaken.

A simple solution of taking you Elliott to the side and explaining to him that the origin of birth and the shade of skin are not always relative to each other...

Yes, he should have been given a small talk and told to never discuss race again. That should have been the end of it.

The idea that he questioned it

Demonstrates that there was no problem. In second grade, I had a classmate that had an eye with a line through it. Above the line was brown, and below it was blue. I asked her about it.

Turns out that curiosity and prejudice are A) two entirely different things and B) mutually exclusive more often than not.

Asking questions is how children learn.

It seems odd that some people would apparently prefer that others grow up ignorant.

What are EA and AA supposed to mean?

Turns out that curiosity and prejudice are A) two entirely different things and B) mutually exclusive more often than not.

I will hope that this situation involves only curiosity. I did not think that the child would be prejudiced but I worry about the need to question someone over their skin color and then link it to national origin? That concept seems advanced enough for me to question it to a small extent. Again, why not question EA students? Why assume that the AA student comes from foreign soil? I think that is the main root of this "controversy" and not specifically related to race itself. Please correct me if my opinion is the falsehood.

In second grade, I had a classmate that had an eye with a line through it. Above the line was brown, and below it was blue. I asked her about it.

But you didn't question her about it; you didn't ask if she had a genetic disorder. I don't know if your situation is similar to the situation from the article.

But you didn't question her about it

Um, what exactly do you think I asked if it wasn't a question?

You still haven't explained "EA" and "AA"

Um, what exactly do you think I asked if it wasn't a question?

The second statement was the meaning behind that. You didn't question her about a genetic disorder. Or did you? That would have been an unreasonable question and asking about national origin in regards to race may not be reasonable when curiosity should be limited to more simple observation that may have been the situation in your questioning of the girl with multicolored eyes.

And "EA" is European-American and "AA" is African-American. It is the abbreviation.

And "EA" is European-American and "AA" is African-American.

And why on Earth would you refer to people in England as European/African-Americans?

This is in the UK??? Oh well. Then it would be AE.

So you assume nationalities, you assume that the other child has recent ancestry from Africa....you are demonstrating EXACTLY why people should ask questions.

Seems like there might be a little racial insensitivity here, and it isn't the child. You're complaining that a young child didn't make YOUR mistake.

Seems like there might be a little racial insensitivity here, and it isn't the child. You're complaining that a young child didn't make YOUR mistake.

I think I may have made too many mistakes in my responses to this article. It may be best to retire from the discussion. I only would use the AE term because no other appropriate term would exist. Anyway, I would assure everyone that I hold no racial insensitivity but I do admit that I made wrong assumptions that have discredited my opinions on this conversation.

I only would use the AE term because no other appropriate term would exist

Except for the minor fact that you have no idea if "African-European" in any way applies. You're trying to substitute assuming for learning.

Then I would have no term to describe the child. Yes, it is wrong to substitute assumptions for learning. That is the lesson the 7 year old child should be taught.

Please God...save me from PC run amok.

Please God...save me from PC run amok.

What do you mean by that statement?

Then I would have no term to describe the child

Um, you call all children "African-European"?

That is the lesson the 7 year old child should be taught

There's no indication that the 7 year old doesn't already know this. Hopefully you're learning it, though

Um, you call all children "African-European"?

If I wanted to describe a European child like the younger child in the article then I would use the AE term . I would try to call children by their names in other situations of conversation.

There's no indication that the 7 year old doesn't already know this

I don't think he would have asked the question if he was taught that concept.

If I wanted to describe a European child like the younger child in the article then I would use the AE term

Why?

I don't think he would have asked the question if he was taught that concept

Well, maybe after you learn the concept, you will understand the difference between assuming and asking.

Why?

Because no other term exists to describe that person.

Well, maybe after you learn the concept, you will understand the difference between assuming and asking.

The child has no reason to ask about the other child's nationality of origin because of skin color. I mentioned that earlier. Why does he not question the nationality of other children? Why that specific child?

Because no other term exists to describe that person

So you're an "AE"?

The child has no reason to ask about the other child's nationality

Nothing in the article mentions anyone asking anyone else about nationality.

Why does he not question the nationality of other children?

Nothing in the article mentions him asking the nationality of ANY children.

So you're an "AE"?

I am not European so I can't be called by that term.

Nothing in the article mentions anyone asking anyone else about nationality.

The child was asked if he came from Africa and that would imply that the child is not a natural UK citizen.

I am not European so I can't be called by that term

And yet you don't see the hypocrisy in using it for someone else without having any idea whether it applies or not?

And yet you don't see the hypocrisy in using it for someone else without having any idea whether it applies or not?

I know of no secondary acceptable descriptive words for that specific child. It may be lesser hypocrisy but it may be necessary.

I know of no secondary acceptable descriptive words for that specific child

But you have no idea if it even describes the child.

. You're still replacing learning with assuming.

The seven year old has it right. You have it wrong.

But you have no idea if it even describes the child.

Yes, that is true. Perhaps it would be best to avoid unreasonable assumptions. But I continue to question the child's motives. I can't say with certainty why he asked the younger child about race. I don't think he should have assumed that this child doesn't originate from his nation. Why question that specific child??

Perhaps it would be best to avoid unreasonable assumptions

It would, and yet you keep assuming over and over. Like, for example, referring to a child as 'African' though the most recent ancestors from Africa could be 10,000 years more ancient than your own most recent ancestors from Africa.

I don't think he should have assumed that this child doesn't originate from his nation

We have no information that he assumed any such thing. It appears that YOU have made an assumption about what the child knows and was thinking.

Why question that specific child?

A) you have no idea if he only asked one person a question. B) If you want to know something about someone, it would only make sense to ask that person.

We have no information that he assumed any such thing. It appears that YOU have made an assumption about what the child knows and was thinking.

He made that assumption when he asked if the child came from Africa. The UK is not in Africa so if he did come from Africa then he did not originate from the UK.

A) you have no idea if he only asked one person a question. B) If you want to know something about someone, it would only make sense to ask that person.

It is the only information in the article so that is the information I am using. And B makes sense but the child should think about the question first and maybe consider that it may be insensitive to ask about a person's national origin based on the person's skin color. To assume that he he may not come from the UK is....essentially racist and that is the entire focus of this entire ordeal.

He made that assumption when he asked if the child came from Africa

Again, here we have YOU making an assumption about the child, but no evidence that the child made any such assumption. Sounds like maybe you're not sure what 'assumption' means.

The child did nothing insensitive, and no question was asked about national origin, which you would know if you read the article.

To assume that he he may not come from the UK...is essentially racist

A) you have no idea that any such assumption was made. B) he asked a question about the other child's origin. YOU made an assumption about the other child's origin

If making an assumption is racist, then the only one we know is guilty is you.

He asked if the child came from Africa! "Are you brown because you come from Africa?". Africa is not part of the UK! He is questioning the child's natural citizenship and national origin. "...you come from Africa?". I am not claiming the the older child believed that the younger child came from Africa but he did question the younger child's origin. I assumed his race but did not assume his nationality and would not do so on the basis of race.

He asked if the child came from Africa

Well it's nice that you finally read the article.

Africa is not part of the UK!

Did you just learn that in school this week? Why the excitement?

I assumed his race

You made lots of assumptions, and that's the point.

Did you just learn that in school this week? Why the excitement?

I don't bring the excitement to debate. But it involves my point. The child questioned the nationality of the younger child by asking if he came from Africa. He should have not questioned his nationality based on race and he did so because he asked about the child's skin color. He had no legitimate reason to do so and I think that is the basis for conflict. I do not believe that the child is the racist but he should be taught to have advanced respect for others.

He should have not questioned his nationality based on race and he did so because he asked about the child's skin color.

You're making assumptions AGAIN. Why not try sticking to what you know for a change?

You're making assumptions AGAIN.

What assumptions am I making again? He asked if the younger child immigrated from foreign soil and did so on the basis of his skin color.

"Are you brown because you come from Africa"???

I think we need to move forward and decide how inappropriate the question was and if the school authorities had any reason to remove him from school.

I thank both you and Polka14 ... Its a sensitive subject ... and its not turned into a name calling fight.. You both have conducted yourselves as adults... Thank you both...

I think myself and I'm Ringo have done our best to remain civil. Hopefully I will see you on the vine again soon.

He asked if the younger child immigrated from foreign soil and did so on the basis of his skin color

Which is yet another thing not found in the article. Either you are getting this information from somewhere else or you are making it up. Care to share your source with everyone else?

and decide how inappropriate the question was

It wasn't. Young child trying to learn.

if the school authorities had any reason to remove him from school

If a desire to learn warrants being removed from school, then what do you picture as the purpose of school?

Which is yet another thing not found in the article.

It was the main point and the only meaning of the question given by the child but I have given enough effort here and you can not see that obvious fact. I think I will detrack this article as this conversation is leading nowhere thanks to your inability to comprehend simple sentences.

thanks to your inability to comprehend simple sentences

Pointing out the fact that you are making things up is far different from being unable to comprehend your nonsense.

I really have a problem with people that play just inside the C of H so they can be rude and get away with it ....

I don't think the person was specifically "rude" but I think the person was unable to understand the seed and the events it described. It is unfortunate. I think we had the good discussion because you understood the question the child asked and we only discussed if it was right or wrong. I am not too certain. The child's question by itself is not right but I must take the child's age into consideration too. Because of age, it may have been an innocent question but something the child should not question if he knew better.

Oh, so me calling baseless statements 'nonsense' is offensive to you, but Polka's statement sounds good?

If you bothered READING my post, then you would know there is nothing remotely close to any CoH boundaries there.

If you really

have a problem with people that play just inside the C of H so they can be rude and get away with it

Then you would have said something to Polka for doing that. That you DIDN'T tells us where you actually stand.

There was no need for your comment other than to attempt to belittle another member

I'm sorry to see that you didn't actually bother to even read my post before responding

Where I stand ...Is relative to who I am speaking to ... As I said I am a Conservative and I am sure if you checked you would find I and quite vocal in that fact... Sadly I agree with much of what you were trying to express I object to how you do it !!!!!

Well congrats for you, but what does being a Conservative have to do with it? I'm not a conservative, and the issue isn't about conservatism

Have fun wherever you're going

Maybe you are correct but I would think all my statements I wrote in #9.1 would be correct including possible motivation for the actual question related to race.