From the article: The Sikh Face of America All About the Challenges of Sikh Americans
An estimated 50% of Sikh children, boys especially, have experienced bullying in American schools. Young innocent Sikh children regardless of race have endured bias incidents, teasing, name calling, harassment, been kicked and punched, suffered bruises and broken noses, had their turbans removed, their hair pulled and even forcibly cut. Sharing your story can help raise awareness of the problem and hopefully help put a stop to bullying. Have you been bullied? Do you know anyone who has been subjected to bullying? How can we put an end to bullying once and for all? Share Your Story
Friends?
- Well it all really started it grade 6. But as I moved on to grade 7, that’s when it got really bad. I wasn’t bullied because of my gender, clothes, or race, nothing like that. It was actually by two of my closest friends. It started when this new girl came in grade 6, prior to my best friend moving up north. So, when she came I thought “well I might as well make a new friend, my best friend is gone and I don’t have anyone else.” As the days went on we became really good friends. Then everything came crashing down when I decided to quit ‘the skipping team’ because we had practises every Tuesday at recess and she was stuck outside alone. All of the other girls (there were 5 of us in total) also were on the skipping team. So I told the ‘coach’ that I quit and I went outside and told her that I quit. The next Tuesday she wasn’t outside. After recess I ask where she was. She replied with “Oh I joined the skipping team!” And because I quit, I couldn’t join the team again for the rest of that grade.
- —Guest JillianB
Bullying
- That is terrible how your son was treated. I hope they do something about what happened. I fear this very thing and I'm on the look out for it and will not sit quietly if I know this is happening with my child. You can find bullies as young as age 7 these days! I feel so awful about what happened to your son. One reason I wont allow mine on the school bus just yet.
- —Guest JamericanSpice
My Son Had His Nose Broken by a Bully.
- Both of my sons have been harassed teased and called names in school for wearing turbans. My oldest son had his lunch taken and thrown over the fence in the garbage outside. When he retrieved it he got in trouble. He got punched in the stomach by three other boys. When he tried to defend himself he got in trouble and suspended for three days. He hurt so much he stayed in bed the entire time. Nothing happened to the other boys. Another time a boy hit him without warning from the side and broke his nose. The doctor said it was the worst break he ever had to do surgery on. My son missed a week of school. My youngest son got suspended for an entire month because he wrote about depression and desire for retaliation in his journal. The police were called and he was ordered to have psychiatric evaluation. The psychologist advised the school board that the district was at risk of a lawsuit because of the way they handled the incident and recommended the school board and staff be reprimanded.
- —guruz
