http://www.thesun.co.uk/article/0,,2-2006280812,00.html
"Mom, I don't want to be a monkey".
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Black kids play monkeys
By JOHN COLES
TWO boys aged seven who are the only black pupils in their infant school year asked to be in the end-of-term play — and were cast as MONKEYS.
Myles Rees and his pal wanted to appear as hunters in the production called An Enchanted Island, which also features knights, elves and witches.
But they claim a teacher turned them down — and the roles were given to white kids.
Last night the youngsters’ furious parents refused to let them appear at all — and blasted the school as racist.
Myles’s mum Lorraine declared: “I am totally outraged.” She said her son — one of only two black pupils in Year 2 — had told her: “Mum, I don’t want to be a monkey”.
In an angry letter to Ashley Down Infant School in Bristol, Lorraine, 39, accused it of a “blatantly, racist act”.
She declared: “The phrase ‘black monkey’ is used as a racist remark and we object very strongly towards our son being used in such a racist context.”
She went on to insist he be withdrawn from the play next month “due to his upset and sensitivity around himself as a black child being cast in this role that is extremely culturally insensitive”.
The parents of the other boy, who did not wish to be named, also slammed the school — which has launched a probe.
Lorraine and husband Andrew have been invited to a meeting organised by the school today with a council race equality adviser.
By JOHN COLES
TWO boys aged seven who are the only black pupils in their infant school year asked to be in the end-of-term play — and were cast as MONKEYS.
Myles Rees and his pal wanted to appear as hunters in the production called An Enchanted Island, which also features knights, elves and witches.
But they claim a teacher turned them down — and the roles were given to white kids.
Last night the youngsters’ furious parents refused to let them appear at all — and blasted the school as racist.
Myles’s mum Lorraine declared: “I am totally outraged.” She said her son — one of only two black pupils in Year 2 — had told her: “Mum, I don’t want to be a monkey”.
In an angry letter to Ashley Down Infant School in Bristol, Lorraine, 39, accused it of a “blatantly, racist act”.
She declared: “The phrase ‘black monkey’ is used as a racist remark and we object very strongly towards our son being used in such a racist context.”
She went on to insist he be withdrawn from the play next month “due to his upset and sensitivity around himself as a black child being cast in this role that is extremely culturally insensitive”.
The parents of the other boy, who did not wish to be named, also slammed the school — which has launched a probe.
Lorraine and husband Andrew have been invited to a meeting organised by the school today with a council race equality adviser.
"Mom, I don't want to be a monkey".
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