South Carolina School Bus Driver Assaults Student for Saying Nigger

A South Carolina school bus driver has been accused of assaulting a 15-year-old boy for allegedly using the N-word.

Terris Devon Richard, 35, was arrested and charged with simple assault and battery on Oct. 27. Witnesses allege that Richard slammed the student’s head into a window on the bus, issued death threats to the student and his family, and vowed to “drag the victim into the school by his neck until he breaks his wind pipe” after the student used the N-word.

When Colleton County authorities responded to the incident, they saw the student — who is white – crying, found red marks around his neck, and his shirt stretched out, according to police reports. As a result of the incident, Richard, who is black, was released from his bus driver position with the district.

CBS Charlotte

According to reports, the 15 year old student said “What up, my nigger?” to one of his friends who was getting on the bus.  Richard expressed his displeasure in the comment in some form and when the student asked him why he had an issue with it that’s when Richard flew off the handle.  Now, I don’t know the context of the incident, if the student was belligerent or not, or attempting to purposely be racial and offend Richard.  Regardless, Richard’s reaction was completely uncalled for.

This brings us to the issue of the double standard when it comes to the use of the word nigger.  Black kids call each other that all the time.  I’ve seen it myself.  If this student had been black we wouldn’t be reading about this incident right now because nothing would have happened.  At best, Richard may have told the kid that he really shouldn’t be calling his friends that given the history of the word’s use.   However, since the student was a white kid using the word, Richard went to a seething rage.  Richard’s actions, in of themselves, are as much a form of racial discrimination.

People in this country have got to move past this and stop being such children when it comes to race.  We see this cowardice even in the media.  None of the news stories reporting on this incident will say nigger.  They all say “n word.” We all know what you mean, so just say it.  This nation’s history is exactly that, history.  It’s not the present and words are only as offensive as you allow them to be.  Either drill it into all children, regardless of race, that calling each other nigger is inappropriate in all contexts, or accept the fact that the use of it today by kids is not done for the same purpose as in the past and move on with life already.

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