You've Got to be Kidding

libramunoz · #1 06-07-2010, 11:35 PM

-Year-Old Removed From Class for Using Olive Oil Hair Product
By Ruth Manuel-Logan on Jun 7th 2010 10:09AM
Comments (323)

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A Seattle writer is angry beyond words, because late last month his 8-year-old child was removed from her honors elementary school class. No, the child did not misbehave. Instead, the little girl was guilty of using a hair moisturizer that allegedly annoyed her Caucasian teacher. Now the NAACP has joined the angry dad in filing a complaint against the child's school.

Charles Mudede, the father, claims that the school administrators at Thurgood Marshall Elementary initially moved his child out of her honors classroom, placing her in a hallway and then, ultimately, moved her to another classroom. Why?

Because the child's teacher stated that she was allergic to the smell of the olive oil moisturizing hair lotion that the little girl used, Organic Root Stimulator (pictured below).

Mudede's daughter, who is biracial, is an honor's student and the only child of color in her grade's accelerated program.

After the teacher complained about her hair grease, though, the child was permanently placed in a classroom with predominantly African American children who were academically not on par.

The child's parents were never even contacted about the matter.

Bellen Drake, the child's mother, tells Seattle's King 5 News:

"I couldn't comprehend it. I was really try to make sense of it and that took a while. My daughter kept saying that she was afraid and it's your hair and that she could come into her class to get her work, then go to another class for the rest of the day."

The family contacted the NAACP, and the organization has taken the reins on this case by filing a formal complaint with the U.S. Department of Education. The civil rights organization says that the incident has "less to do about hair and more to do with how the whole situation was handled."

Mudede and his wife have also decided to hire an attorney. Until the matter is settled, Mudede writes in his blog, The Stranger:

"We decided not to send our daughter to school until the teacher had medical proof that our daughter's hair or something in her hair was to blame for the nausea. (The last thing you want to happen to your daughter is for a teacher to faint or vomit at the mere sight of her.) Days passed and the school took no action. This unresponsiveness left us with no other choice than to turn to a lawyer. The whole thing is a mess. Getting entangled in a racial dilemma is something most black parents do not want for their children. It's just not worth the trouble. Then again, like I said, if not checked and confronted, the incident will have permanent consequences for my child."

In a statement, the school district told King 5 News:

"We're concerned and we're looking into it. Our priority is to get the child back in school."

Bet you three dimes to a dollar, this teacher is gonna regret her actions by the morning. Don't know what she was thinking but I'm sure she is questioning herself if her license was worth removing the child from the classroom.

I've used their products once or twice, I never noticed any smell to them.

As Ricky would say, this teacher has some "splaining" to do.

BabyPiNK_FL · #2 06-07-2010, 11:48 PM

I use that same product in the moisturizing mousse version and I'm sure many others do too. None of my friends or my ex have ever complained of a smell ever. Not when sharing a hotel/vehicle/during hugs etc. It actually has a very mild fresh scent and is mostly natural ingredients if not completely natural.

I have family members prone to sensitivity of products who also use similar products if not the same and have no problem.

What in the world was this teacher thinking?! Even if there was a smell how could she even be certain it was that child and for certain her hair?

Animate · #3 06-07-2010, 11:53 PM

Wow...Now I do think they should seek some explanation but I don't like how its initially made into a racial issue. Just get a lawyer without going to the NAACP first.

preciousjeni · #4 06-07-2010, 11:58 PM

Sounds fishy, but ok.

BabyPiNK_FL · #5 06-08-2010, 12:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Animate

Wow...Now I do think they should seek some explanation but I don't like how its initially made into a racial issue. Just get a lawyer without going to the NAACP first.

The video said they wanted a meeting with the district. The article said they wanted proof from the teacher of her allergy to the ingredients of the product. Neither of which has been produced. I agree that the lawyers and NAACP seem "fast". But the school should respond with action instead of some statements. Either of those are doable or at least the conversation should be being had and it's not. I guess they were not getting explanations in what they felt was a timely manner. At least I hope that's the reason.

The teacher did say she had allergies at the start of the year, but she just now noticed she's "allergic" to this girl's hair product that she has apparently been using for over a year?

DiamondAthena · #6 06-08-2010, 12:14 AM

riiight. just move her out of her class,without talking to the parents.... that'll work.

dreamseeker · #7 06-08-2010, 12:55 AM

don't laugh y'all...but when i read the title i pictured some oily kid using real olive oil in their hair and smelling like cooking oil. i can't believe they're talking about the actual brand olive oil. like babypink said, most products do not have a smell. and even if it did, there's no way in hell that it would smell up the whole classroom. gtfohwtbs.

rhoyaltempest · #8 06-08-2010, 02:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Animate

Wow...Now I do think they should seek some explanation but I don't like how its initially made into a racial issue. Just get a lawyer without going to the NAACP first.

You should know that whenever you have a predominantly white school and the minority population is very low (which means that the school is not used to dealing with diversity), there is usually an element of racial prejudice involved in such situations, when basic procedures are not followed such as contacting a child's parents to let them know what's going on. And I'm speaking from experience as one who has gone to predominantly white schools (and black schools for that matter) since elementary school. Usually there is an element of racial prejudice (even if small) on behalf of someone; in this case the teacher. Because I have seen things like this play out so many times (including a personal experience I had), there is no doubt in my mind.

Prettyface08 · #9 06-08-2010, 07:32 AM

I've used the Olive Oil brand moisturizer before (along with the shampoo and conditioner) and will admit that, IMO, it does smell. Not a stinky smell or a bad smell but it does smell. I can smell it in my hair all day. I don't think that it smells bad enough to warrant kicking a baby out of class though. This person is an idiot. If she were that allergic to the product then she should have spoken to the parents to ask if they could maybe change the product during the week so that it didn't make her sick. She didn't even try.

@Dreamseeker lol Don't laugh about the EVOO, I moisturize my hair with it!

Little32 · #10 06-08-2010, 08:14 AM

It's called open a window and keep it moving. If it is really that bad, then arrange to have a discussion with both child and parents about the situation--not that I believe for a minute that it was really that bad. Don't humiliate the child by telling her that her hair care product is making you sick. :neutral:

Prettyface08 · #11 06-08-2010, 08:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Little32

It's called open a window and keep it moving. If it is really that bad, then arrange to have a discussion with both child and parents about the situation--not that I believe for a minute that it was really that bad. Don't humiliate the child by telling her that her hair care product is making you sick. :neutral:

Or by making her sit in the hall. That was so wrong. She's supposed to be an adult, she couldn't think of one other way to handle the situation?

Senusret I · #12 06-08-2010, 08:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Prettyface08

I've used the Olive Oil brand moisturizer before (along with the shampoo and conditioner) and will admit that, IMO, it does smell. Not a stinky smell or a bad smell but it does smell. I can smell it in my hair all day.

I was going to say the same thing. I like that company's products, but some of them just stay in your hair for way too long.

ASTalumna06 · #13 06-08-2010, 08:25 AM

My problem is with this statement:

"After the teacher complained about her hair grease, though, the child was permanently placed in a classroom with predominantly African American children who were academically not on par."

Who did she complain to? Others must have known that she moved the child out of her class. Did administrators not feel an obligation to tell the parents, as well?

I definitely don't think that the teacher is the only one to blame..

TonyB06 · #14 06-08-2010, 08:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Animate

Wow...Now I do think they should seek some explanation but I don't like how its initially made into a racial issue. Just get a lawyer without going to the NAACP first.

Nah, now had it been "Tussy," now that would have made it a racial issue.

agzg · #15 06-08-2010, 09:36 AM

This makes me really sad - I'm sure her hair lotion could have been switched, had the teacher/school bothered to call the parents and let them know the situation. If a child had been moved between classrooms without notifying the parents when I was in elementary school heads woud have rolled - I don't blame the parents for contacting a lawyer one bit. Especially because she's been moved out of an "advanced" classroom to a regular one.