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BeyondGeography

(39,276 posts)
Tue Dec 11, 2018, 11:11 AM Dec 2018

9-year-old kills self after racist taunts from class: family

A black 9-year-old girl in Alabama allegedly took her own life after facing relentless bullying and racism in class, according to reports.

McKenzie Adams’ relatives said she hanged herself Dec. 3 in her home in Linden, about 100 miles west of Montgomery, and was discovered by her grandmother, according to the Tuscaloosa News.

Since the start of the school year, the fourth-grader had been the target of bullying at US Jones Elementary School, where she was teased over her friendship with a white male classmate, according to her family.

Her aunt, Eddwina Harris, said the group of students taunted McKenzie by telling her to commit suicide.

“She was being bullied the entire school year, with words such as ‘kill yourself,’ ‘you think you’re white because you ride with that white boy,’ ‘you ugly,’ ‘black bitch,’ ‘just die,’” Harris told the newspaper.

Harris said she’s speaking out about her niece’s death because she wants to promote anti-bullying...

https://nypost.com/2018/12/10/9-year-old-committed-suicide-after-classmates-taunted-kill-yourself-family/


OP link is to the NY Post because it's more to the point than local coverage:

https://www.dispatch.com/news/20181209/9-year-old-girls-suicide-shocks-small-alabama-community
23 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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9-year-old kills self after racist taunts from class: family (Original Post) BeyondGeography Dec 2018 OP
Beautiful baby mrs_p Dec 2018 #1
This is so sad. Delphinus Dec 2018 #2
Kid suicides are the worst of all, to me. Kittycow Dec 2018 #3
This is so sad Fatemah2774 Dec 2018 #4
Future GOPee voters no doubt sandensea Dec 2018 #5
I have no words... Raster Dec 2018 #6
Only tears for me. Garrett78 Dec 2018 #23
There Are Usually A Few Main Bullies - Find Them And Put Them In Juvenile Detention PaulX2 Dec 2018 #7
Wish there were a way to impart empathy. Duppers Dec 2018 #9
The Teachers Are Probably Racists Too PaulX2 Dec 2018 #14
Mindfulness training in schools works great! Helps kids learn how to manage their emotions, many JudyM Dec 2018 #19
Absolutely. Duppers Dec 2018 #20
What a terribly aweful and sad story ZeroSomeBrains Dec 2018 #8
I may be totally off-base here, but where are the teachers? Can't they spot these things? secondwind Dec 2018 #10
Alabama, jeez there is a shock... NOT Celerity Dec 2018 #11
4th grade? That's scary Victor_c3 Dec 2018 #12
Elections have consequences. Just another example we can thank non-voters for. ffr Dec 2018 #13
If I was the parent Yosemito Dec 2018 #15
How does a 9 year-old know how to hang herself? Something doesn't sound right to me. allgood33 Dec 2018 #16
That struck me as well. I hope they did a thorough investigation. ecstatic Dec 2018 #21
Several People Failed This Young Girl DallasNE Dec 2018 #17
horrible - so young NewJeffCT Dec 2018 #18
Where's Malignia? Isn't countering this with Be Best her new schtick? nt Ilsa Dec 2018 #22
 

PaulX2

(2,032 posts)
7. There Are Usually A Few Main Bullies - Find Them And Put Them In Juvenile Detention
Tue Dec 11, 2018, 12:21 PM
Dec 2018

Until they are 18. Then the whole state can have a day to learn about bullying / racism, and show them the pictures of the kids behind bars.

I know Alabama thinks the wrong side won the civil war, but kids should be able to go to school without this kind of crap.

I know. I was a bully, and I was bullied relentlessly.

It should not be allowed, and someone needs to make a point.

JudyM

(29,122 posts)
19. Mindfulness training in schools works great! Helps kids learn how to manage their emotions, many
Tue Dec 11, 2018, 11:13 PM
Dec 2018

more benefits. Should be part of every school’s curriculum.

secondwind

(16,903 posts)
10. I may be totally off-base here, but where are the teachers? Can't they spot these things?
Tue Dec 11, 2018, 12:29 PM
Dec 2018

Seems to me if white kids are spouting hatred, it would show on their ugly faces across the schoolyard...

This is too horrific to contemplate.

Celerity

(42,630 posts)
11. Alabama, jeez there is a shock... NOT
Tue Dec 11, 2018, 12:29 PM
Dec 2018


Now



70 years ago



A 107 year old ex-slave and his wife hearing the preacher of the Ku Klux Klan, Talladega, AL, 1948



Merry Christmas!

Victor_c3

(3,557 posts)
12. 4th grade? That's scary
Tue Dec 11, 2018, 12:36 PM
Dec 2018

My oldest daughter just turned 10 and is in 4th grade. I couldn’t imagine her or any of the kids in her class going through or doing any of that.

Kids are a reflection of their parents and upbringing. The parents are just as culpable as the kids involved.

ffr

(22,644 posts)
13. Elections have consequences. Just another example we can thank non-voters for.
Tue Dec 11, 2018, 01:17 PM
Dec 2018

Vote, like your life and those around you, depends upon it.

 

Yosemito

(648 posts)
15. If I was the parent
Tue Dec 11, 2018, 01:44 PM
Dec 2018

I cannot tell you what I would do in this case.
My child’s death would only be the beginning.

ecstatic

(32,566 posts)
21. That struck me as well. I hope they did a thorough investigation.
Tue Dec 11, 2018, 11:19 PM
Dec 2018

I'm no stranger to depression, even when I was that age... but in the moments when I felt suicidal, the method I thought about was a bottle of pills, NOT hanging or anything that final.

DallasNE

(7,392 posts)
17. Several People Failed This Young Girl
Tue Dec 11, 2018, 01:53 PM
Dec 2018

We just don't know enough to assign blame yet.

It starts with the parents as it appears the girl gave them details. I presume they confronted school administration. How did that play out.

Where we're the teachers that they didn't confront the parents of the bullies - even expell the bullies (after a hearing). The school should be a no bully zone given how serious the consequences are with inaction.

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