‘Reverse Racism’ in the Classroom? Black Florida Teacher Suspended For Racial Statements

By: Shani K. Collins, Your Black World

A Volusia, Florida teacher was suspended without pay for one day after referring to his second-grade students at Westside Elementary School as “black people” and “white boy”.

Billy Miles, who is Black, did not deny making racial statements to his ethnically diverse class; instead, he contends that he commonly speaks in a joking way to his students.

The Volusia School Board did not see the humor in his comments, and suspended the 31-year teaching veteran after his comments were overheard by recruitment coordinator, DeLorah Hyacinth. Hyacinth was working as a substitute in Miles’ class during state test administration and reported his comments to the school’s principal, Judi Winch.

Before leaving his class and releasing Hyacinth to substitute, Miles was heard saying to his students: “I don’t want the black people misbehaving in public.” He was also heard saying: “Excuse me, white boy” to the singular white student in his class, according to the Daytona Beach News-Journal.

After questioning the white student, Principal Winch found that Miles often made jokes about white people in class, and commonly referred to him as “white boy.” Furthermore, a student reported hearing Miles tell the white child: “Get your white tail over here.”

In a written statement to investigators, Miles defended his comments saying: ”I always talk that way. Can’t change color, but can change their behavior. They must change (behavior) to be successful.”

Regardless of the teacher’s concern over his students behavior in his absence, this situation proves that school districts are growing increasingly intolerant of racial comments of any kind.

Shani K. Collins is a freelance writer. You may visit her at www.shanicollins.com

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http://goodgiant-mikeharris.blogspot.com goodgiant

There’s a right way and a wrong way to do everything under the sun. In this case I vehemently disagree with an instructor or teacher of young ppl identifying them according to the color of their identity. It’s really ridiculous that we’ve come to the point of identifying ourselves according to color. The reality is most of us are off base with the skin color identity game, because in TRUTH black is not our actual color, we’re brown and white is not their actual color they’re pale.

In my opinion we should identify ourselves as Pan Africans because it connects us with our ppl throughout the diaspora and the world! So-called whites, in the US, are European’s or descendants from Europe who’ve labeled themselves as American’s or the American ppl. The phrase American ppl, by the way, really implies that those with European roots fit such a description and not everyone else! They use the code phrase for their own identity… So when you hear politicians say things like “I’m here to do the work for the American ppl” what their implying is that they’re doing the work for white ppl only. Black ppl are not really included, though we’ve been lead to believe we are, in essence, their not referring to us or anyone else, only themselves…

I strongly suggest that we drop the African American identity and embrace “Pan African” because it adds more depth to who we really are… We are a ppl brought here against our will from Africa! We have relatives/ppl in Cuba, Haiti, Peru, the Caribbean Islands, Mexico and Brazil whom were forced here against their will under the same set of circumstances as we were, and is something we need to be aware of on a 247 basis!

PEACE
Diana

That is unprofessional to single out students based on their color. Teachers need to quit trying to make friends with their students by acting ignorant. Their job is to teach the student about serious matters pertaining to the course on hand. Teachers will gain more respect from their students if the teachers act their age.

Anonymous

I agree he was definately unprofessional. The world is what it is but the youth are the future and with them comes the potential for change. His remarks only perpetuate the stereotypes that cause this type of thinking. It’s hard to imagine that someone like this would be a part of a learning enviroment. Wow.

Omarali81

america turned everyone into a racises
Anonymous

Racist? No. Just bad manners – manners 8 years olds do not understand yet but adults must. In this a case the 31 year old teacher was not sensitive to the single white child’s sense of being the odd man out so to speak. Amplifiying that by remarking about his color may have increased the child’s playground problems. We all know that socialization in school sets life long patterns. This can be a professional learning situation for the teacher or it can be a nail in his professional coffin. The choice is up to the teacher.
Sibyl4500

I really hate that he is not healed from whatever he has faced in his life, and that he doesnt have the sense to know that he too is causing the same pain that someone has caused him. Everyone knows that if a teacher called our kids by “black girl”, and they were white, it would be hell to pay. They put people in positions because they can past tests, but we need a certain type of person to work with our children. Yes he definitely needs a career, and teaching may be for him, but maybe these things should be covered in a curriculum or a part of training before starting the job of educating our young.
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