US Mom Claims White Students Allegedly 'Segregate' Her Asian American Son

Lyles Crouch Traditional Academy in Alexandria, Virginia, finds itself dealing with alarming allegations of suspected racial segregation during an after-school activity. Concerns have been raised by parent Kathryn Kelley, who claims her fifth-grade son, of mixed Asian descent, faced discriminatory treatment at the hands of white students.

Allegations of Racial Segregation

According to Kelley, these students told her son that he could not sit with them because he was mixed-race. This alleged directive went much further, dividing students based on their race, a practice that dates back to a dark period in American history. Kelley also claims that students of colour were bullied and marginalised, compounding the distressing nature of the situation.

“[They were] saying that mixed race kids had to sit at a table that was away from the white kids, and then African American and black kids had to sit even further,” Kelley claimed during an interview with News4. “They said that they were segregated and that they couldn’t play with the white kids.It was, of course very difficult, it was confusing. He was trying to understand what was going on while also trying to stand up for his friends and trying to interrupt the situation, but not really knowing what to do,” Kelley added in her statement. 

News4 obtained a letter from the school's principal to parents last Friday, acknowledging an "inappropriate game" that made certain students uncomfortable as part of a "role play of a social studies lesson."

The letter stated, “Students often want to discuss troubling topics from class in a variety of ways, some of which may cause offence. This is certainly a challenge in educating our students and one that we must be keenly aware of when difficult topics are presented.”

Kelley calls for proactive actions  to address these challenges, stressing that understanding historical background is important, but it must be given with the gravity and seriousness it deserves, “When kids are learning these things, like about segregation, learning about the history of white supremacy in the U.S. -- they have to learn that, they need to learn that, but it’s not a game, and they need to learn the seriousness of these things.”

Moving Towards Inclusion

The principal of the school stated in a letter to families that she intends to work with her team to add lessons on thinking before speaking and acting to the curriculum. The principal further stated that the school community has a shared obligation to ensure that all children feel valued and appreciated.

This viewpoint is shared by educators and experts, including Greg Carr, an Afro-American studies professor at Howard University who, according to Today.com, underlines the value of introducing lessons on inclusiveness and empathy into the curriculum.

Carr explained how imparting knowledge on inclusion may be as easy as asking children how they feel when they watch TV characters who look like them. He also thinks guest speakers can be beneficial.

"So a lesson on segregation could incorporate elders who lived through that period," Carr explained. "You know the implications of it now, from an elder who can tell you how much it hurt to be segregated."