One of this site’s raison d’être is to celebrate the many shades of black that exists in the world so imagine our shock when we heard about the antics of one Lewisham school. Pupils from Sandhurst Junior School in Catford, South East London, were left in tears due to racial segregation.
More than 100 children, aged seven to 11, were lined up from the lightest skinned to the darkest for class photos.
One angry mum said: “My 10-year-old was told to get further back in the line as she was not white enough. She came home devastated and cried saying, ‘I wish my skin was lighter mummy’.
“The children were so confused. They don’t see colour, they just see their classmates.”
Dozens of parents complained to the school over the photos last week.
Ann Andrew, 49, said her daughter Angela, 10, came home and sobbed: “My school’s so racist”. Head Val Hughes admitted pupils were divided up but said it was just to help the photographer.
She explained to Mrs Andrew in a letter: “Some classes were organised lightest to darkest skin tone and some darkest to lightest. This meant the photographer did not have to keep readjusting his reflector screens.”
Many parents now plan to complain to the local education authority.
Lewisham council said: “If it did occur the school will need to investigate and take any appropriate action.”
It’s hard enough trying to stop the infighting between the various shades of black grown-ups let’s not prolong it into the next generation.
