Mother Sues School District After Sons Targeted by Racist Harassment
Elementary school should be a place where children learn to read, write and make friends.
Instead, according to a lawsuit filed in federal court, two Black brothers at a Southern California elementary school endured months of racial harassment that included slurs, degrading comments about their skin color and even a note telling one child that his skin was “as black as your future.”
Their mother is now accusing the Redlands Unified School District of ignoring repeated warnings and failing to protect her sons from a hostile school environment that she says left lasting emotional scars, according to the Los Angeles Times.
The federal civil rights lawsuit alleges that the boys, students at Mariposa Elementary School, were subjected to racist bullying by classmates for months. The harassment, according to court filings, included repeated use of racial slurs and written insults passed between students.
One of the boys allegedly received a note that read, “Your skin is as black as your future.” Another insult compared his skin color to “dog food,” according to the complaint reviewed by the Redlands Daily Facts. The boys’ mother, Daphne Hawkins, claims the abuse escalated over time despite being repeatedly reported to school staff.
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The lawsuit claims administrators failed to intervene, instead relying on counseling and informal responses rather than disciplinary measures or other methods to stop the harassment.
A central incident cited in the complaint involved a classroom lesson on Zwarte Piet, a Dutch holiday figure widely criticized for racist imagery and often depicted by white actors in blackface, according to NPR. The lawsuit alleges one of the boys– the only Black kid in the classroom– was singled out during the class. Following the lesson, the lawsuit claims that the bullying got worse.
According to the complaint, both children later developed symptoms consistent with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) as the harassment continued.
The district declined to comment on the specifics of the allegations due to the ongoing suit.
“While we cannot comment on the specific allegations contained in the lawsuit, Redlands Unified takes concerns involving discrimination, harassment, bullying, and student well-being seriously,” a spokesperson wrote in a statement to the Los Angeles Times. “When concerns are brought forward, the District follows established procedures to review the matter, provide appropriate support, and take action consistent with District policy and applicable law.”
In prior statements, district officials said they take all reports of discrimination and bullying seriously and follow procedures to address student complaints, according to the outlet.
Civil rights advocates say the case highlights ongoing concerns about how schools respond to racial bullying, particularly when it involves younger students. The lawsuit seeks unspecified damages and policy changes aimed at preventing any Black child from having to go through similar bullying in the future.
