WASHINGTON -- A prominent author and professor said his 6-year-old grandson was called the “n-word” and threatened by another first grade student at an elementary school in Northwest Washington.
Dr. Michael Eric Dyson said his grandson was rushing to the front of the pizza line during lunch at Horace Mann Elementary, when a white student made the threats.
“He called him the n-word, the b-word and eventually said I’m going to go home and get my father’s gun and come back and shoot you,” Dyson said.
According to a police report, the incident was reported to the school’s principal by a teacher. The report also notes, that first grade student is accused of threatening another student during lunch too.
“He said 'Papa, I'm sad and I'm scared,'” Dyson said.
Dyson said he met with school leaders as well as the other student and his parents on Wednesday.
“They were horrified that their son made these remarks," Dyson said. "They couldn't figure out where they'd come from because they were socially progressive."
“DC Public Schools is committed to maintaining safe and welcoming environments for all students and staff," a DC Public Schools spokesperson said. "We will provide Mann the support it needs to adequately address this issue and continue to partner with our school communities to ensure meaningful learning and positive interactions occur within all of our school buildings.”
The entire incident is under investigation by the DCPS Comprehensive Alternative Resolution & Equity (CARE) Team, the spokesperson said.
"This team is responsible for receiving claims of discrimination, sexual harassment, bullying, or any unfair treatment a student, parent or visitor encounter at a DC Public School,” the spokesperson said.
It's unclear what consequences the accused student is facing.
Dyson said he’s asking the principal and DC Public School system to come up with a plan to approach and deal with such issues. Another meeting is planned for a later date.
In the meantime, Dyson is encouraging his followers on social media to talk openly about racial issues and bullying, to counter the hate kids are seeing.
This reported incident comes just days after students at Walt Whitman High School, a predominantly white school in Maryland, posted a picture in blackface to social media, describing themselves with the “n-word.”
A few weeks prior, students at the DC prep school, Sidwell Friends, projected swastikas on a screen during a presentation.
“Now we see the rise of white supremacist thinking and a kind of emboldening of those forces. So, we have to be able to pinpoint those and say this is wrong, this is problematic,” said Dyson.