How should I handle "whitey"?

Question

My five-year-old taught his little brother this term, I assume he picked it up at school.

What level of "appropriate" does it fall under? Is it usually an offensive or negatively racial term?

Okay, thanks. I don't think it's the "sick" definition, because he was using it as a name. So I just treated it like any other and told him it's not nice to call people names.

But I didn't know if I should specify he's not to use that word, in particular.

Ahhh, kindergarten. Every day a new adventure....

Riku: It's this funny little thing called "respect."

I want my kids to have it.

Answer 1

Yes - as it involves race/skin colour (presumably) it is best to ask him not to use it without going into too much detail as to why.

Answer 2

Well, what do you think? What level of appropriate does the "n" word fall under? Is that word usually an offensive or negative racial term? Why would it be inappropriate for caucasian people to use that term, but not inappropriate for non-caucasians to use the word "whitey"? Think about it.

Answer 3

I grew up in Detroit during the 70's and i am white. I was called that name amongst others. Now I am older, and I am the minority once more. Words only have power if you let them. If people judge me based on the color of my skin, then in my mind, that makes them pretty ignorant, and someone I would not want to socialize with.

If your son continues with this, and I am sure he does not understand what he is doing, he will end up on everybodys "list" of a individual not to socialize with.

Then, it will just be a matter of time before he hangs with others that behave the same way......

This should be treated the same way you would react to them walking around using the F word...

Any rational parent would penalize their child for that behavior

Answer 4

As anything it depends on context. "Go to Hell" or "there is a place called heaven and a place called Hell" I mean if a friend is saying "Hey whitey, what ya doin?" that's fine even if they are a different race but if they use it derogatorily then it could be considered mildly racist. I would look at it this way there could be worse things he could be saying I would just try to teach him now before he gets too old.

Answer 5

tell him it's offensive, and to tell the teacher. A little boy called my little cousin a "n", and he told the teacher, they had the little boys sit down and discuss it, comes to find out the other little boy didn't even know what it meant, he had heard it from a rap song his older brother listens to. (just goes to show you that rap does influence young people, and if we, as black people want to get mad at others using a word, we shouldn't use it ourselves, but I digress) So just ask the teacher to have them talk it out, the little boy probably heard his dad say it, and he didn't know it was offensive.

Answer 6

It is definitely a racist term said against Caucasian people,and I find it very offensive.

Answer 7

Um, Social laws today are really werid, due to the ever increasing Pop culture, so it's hard to say if it's Racial or not...

Answer 8

hmmm.. never heard it used as a derogatory term before. I know it to mean when you've smoked too much fun cigarettes and you feel a bit unwell. I would just explain to your wee one that it isn't a very nice name and it makes people feel bad when he calls them it.

Answer 9

I would say it is inappropriate because it is derogatory slang. Kids pick up things all the time, they just need to be reminded that it is inappropriate, so much that even mommy's and daddy's can't say it.

If the behavior continues, proceed with normal punishment procedures.

Answer 10

Yes, it is a derogatory term.

Danielle: You know exactly what the term means but allow me to be of help. It is a term that has arisen from urban black "yoofs" to refer to a white person.

It isn't right no matter what term is used and no matter who it is directed toward. Two wrongs don't make a right.