Brampton Ontario, 16yr School Teen regrets making racist YouTube video, dad says

Racism happens everywhere, but the occurrence of it in Canada is relatively low compared to our neighbour to the south, but when it happens, it hits the news.

It may be two minutes she’ll regret for the rest of her life. That’s about the time it took a young white teen from Brampton to record a YouTube video in which she comes across as a racist. The 16-year-old rants to a camera about how everyone in her Brampton high school “is brown,’’ equates “turbans’’ with “terrorists,’’ moans about having to move from Toronto to “Bramladesh,’’ asks white people to get in touch with her and advises brown people to “go back to your own country.’’ And now the teen — who made those comments in a recent YouTube-posted video gone viral this week with copies — faces death threats.

But her father says his daughter is truly sorry she made the video, which is “totally out of character,” and that she has struggled with depression and is now in hospital. “She has some challenges,’’ said her father. (The Star has decided not to name the student or her family.) He wanted to make it plain that he’s very sorry about the content and apologizes on behalf of his family “to anyone who’s been hurt by this video.” “I’m angry at the content of the video — it’s not who she is as a person or how she was brought up,’’ said her father. His daughter is definitely not a racist and has non-white friends.

“The first thing she said, was ‘Dad, I’m not a racist. I don’t know why I did it. It was stupid,’” said the father, who’s not sure when his daughter made the video and posted it to YouTube. He says he hasn’t been able to get an answer to why she made the video. “It might have been a cry for help. I don’t know … an attention-seeking thing. I have no idea.’’ His main concern right now “is to help her with the challenges she’s going through.’’ Students at Brampton’s Turner Fenton Secondary School told the Star Tuesday that the teen had been jumped the day before by another student. Teachers had to call police to escort her from the school safely, the students said. The Grade 11 student has not been at school since, and her Facebook and Twitter accounts, which she identified in her YouTube video, have been dismantled.

Friends told the Star she’s dropped out of sight and no one has heard from her. On Tuesday, her angry peers — most of whom aren’t white — don’t expect her back at school any time soon. “That was blatantly racist,” said a Grade 10 student during the lunch hour. “She should have recognized that everyone here is from a different background.” The video seemed to come out of the blue and doesn’t reflect on their school, which has people from all cultures and religions, students said. Everyone gets along, for the most part. Just two weeks ago, the school held a culture festival with presentations and food to celebrate its diversity. A group of Grade 10 boys playing football said they didn’t take the video personally, but thought it was “ignorant.” One joked that he smells like Axe — not curry. “I’m only offended about the ‘go back to your country’ part,” said one student, 16. “Most of us were born here.”

The students who spoke to the Star condemned any violence against the teen and hoped she has learned her lesson. Friends of various races expressed shock that she posted it in the first place. Certainly the video has launched a firestorm of tweets and comments, overwhelmingly critical of the teen. Const. George Tudos, media relations representative for Peel Police, confirmed the teen has had death threats and police are monitoring the situation. He said the police have had many emails and phone calls from people “who are outraged’’ about the video, which started circulating on Sunday, with posted copies gaining thousands of viewings. The original has been deleted from YouTube. “It has created quite a stir,’’ he said. Police have looked at the video and, while its contents are “disappointing,’’ Tudos said at this point they “don’t think there’s anything criminal in nature.’’ He said police don’t believe it qualifies as hate propaganda but the investigation is ongoing. Further, the postings under the various copies of the YouTube video contain “hurtful’’ comments, he said. “There’s a back and forth … kind of like a feud.’’

A request from the Star for comment from the teen’s school principal was refused on the grounds of privacy rules. Carla Pereira, acting manager of communications for the Peel District School Board, said she could not confirm that she was a student at the school or, if she was, whether she had been suspended. But Pereira did acknowledge that Turner Fenton Secondary School made an announcement to all students Monday about “appropriate use of technology’’ and that students can face penalties if they don’t abide by the school code of contact.

In cases like this, involving suspect use of social media, she said school authorities would begin an investigation and contact police. “We take reports like this very seriously,’’ Pereira said. “We expect all students to demonstrate appropriate online conduct and refrain from improper/unethical use of technology while at and away from school. That is the expectation in our schools’ codes of conduct. Students who do not abide by the code will be subject to appropriate progressive discipline.’’

I feel bad for her and her family, she probably have to deal with her life of a teen and along with her issues, and just vents everything out but sadly, it comes out as racist. At least her schoolmates condemned any violence against her, lets forgive and forget.

Not a bad ending in my opinion.

Source Metro News Toronto

Bullcrap, racism doesn't come and go. It's not diarrhea.

You don't go off on a tirade against people of different races on accident. That just doesn't happen. The girl was speaking her heart, and no amount of apologizing can change what we now know about her.

You have every right to your opinion and we have the right to judge you based on it.

Yes she was speaking her heart but it was inapropiate to blab such nonsense, especially on the internet. SMH.

But the question is, what happened to her for her to has such an attitude about "brown" people? Like a neighbor kid of mine, said he hates black people. He says that because the only black people he knows are in school and he was constantly ridiculed and beat on by said black kids therefore he hates black people. See, if the anti bullying campaign actually worked and teachers weren't soo afraid of being on the PC bus nowadays (afraid to reprimand children of color for fear of being labeled racist which could ultimately make them lose their careers) my neighbor kid probably wouldn't hold those feelings of resentment.

Food for thought.

Originally posted by kimish
Yes she was speaking her heart but it was inapropiate to blab such nonsense, especially on the internet. SMH.

But the question is, what happened to her for her to has such an attitude about "brown" people? Like a neighbor kid of mine, said he hates black people. He says that because the only black people he knows are in school and he was constantly ridiculed and beat on by said black kids therefore he hates black people. See, if the anti bullying campaign actually worked and teachers weren't soo afraid of being on the PC bus nowadays my neighbor kid probably wouldn't hold those feelings of resentment.

Food for thought.

edit on 18-4-2012 by kimish because: (no reason given)

Sad thing is, "brown" is a general term, it could reflect, Indian, Some middle eastern(including some Arabs), and mainly south Asian population.

Brampton is known to have higher "brown" population than Toronto(where i live as well she did from the article), but she categorized everyone as turban wearing terrorist, in fact if you take all the countries i mentioned, only like 30% of the countries wear turbans(mainly middle eastern and some Indian cultures). IMO she just couldn't handle being in a majority of brown school, she probably frustrated that she is away from her friends. She is a teen after all, if this was a person of 20+ i would assume something else.

I think this is the video in question?

Personally I believe racism can exist in anyone to some degree .

For example you are a white male/female. You are mostly drawn to hanging out with white people, if you can remember back in school the white kids sat with white kids and the black kids sat with black kids.

If you have a bad experience with the other race, since you aren't constantly around the other race like you are your own then well you label it as it being that race. When it's your own race then its just the typical a**hole.

I may be wrong but hey just my .02

reply to post by blupblup


After listening to her I'm even more convinced she's a horrible, uneducated racist.

Educated white people need to get together and make it known to the trash that they aren't welcome. They're making us all look like belligerent fools and propagating ignorance.

reply to post by blupblup


Sorry Blupx2, im at a place where Youtube video cannot be viewed. If its the video, that's awesome and thanks,

reply to post by TinkerHaus




Yeah I know man...this is the kind of "Fly on the wall" conversation you don't often hear, but for someone to post this online?

Just insane...


And yes, All people of all colours need to denounce racists.

reply to post by luciddream




I think it is, I'm pretty sure.

And no worries, you're welcome

I wonder how the Toronto chicks look like?
My curiosity is peaked.

Brampton is not too far from where i live(Toronto), granted it is another city and about an hr drive but i would assume similar environment, i went to school in Toronto my entire life (excluding preschool/kindergarten), i never seen a racial fight, i mean, there is always that name calling, but its never serious. i believe the only big fight i seen was between a black and white guy which got bigger when their friends joined, but it was broken up in few minutes.

Most of the time, everyone gets along with everyone, people do hang around with their race during breaks and whatnot, but when it class time, its all mixed and everyone laughs at everyone jokes, you don't even feel different.

i sometimes see some parents "giving that look" when they come to pick up their child because they might be handing around with their a "different" kid, but the parents probably grew up in a different environment/time.

The first thing she said, was ‘Dad, I’m not a racist'

Ah yes, the favorite phrase of racists everywhere. Those who truly are not racists never have to say it, it can be seen by others through their words and actions. Those who are racists have to say this frequently however, it's their way of justifying their words and deeds. It usually goes "I'm not a racist, but _______" (fill in the blank with racist statement)

reply to post by luciddream


I'm from the deep south of the United States in Alabama and my schools were the same way lol. Alabama is considered one of the most "close minded, redneck, racist, bible thumpers, fatty mcfatpants, you name it."

Every child got along but the parents is what generated the racism.

Big surprise this girl thinks turbans relate to terrorist LOL.. I mean seriously are any of you surprised?

Have any of you sat down and watched any of the MSM?.. I bet atleast 80% of the American population think the same way but won't admit it..

Canada is of course our neighboring country so you know they are going to be fed the same crap ^^

Originally posted by Pelvi
reply to post by luciddream

 

I'm from the deep south of the United States in Alabama and my schools were the same way lol. Alabama is considered one of the most "close minded, redneck, racist, bible thumpers, fatty mcfatpants, you name it."

Every child got along but the parents is what generated the racism.

Big surprise this girl thinks turbans relate to terrorist LOL.. I mean seriously are any of you surprised?

Have any of you sat down and watched any of the MSM?.. I bet atleast 80% of the American population think the same way but won't admit it..

Canada is of course our neighboring country so you know they are going to be fed the same crap ^^

Yup we get 90% of the US channels, FOX, CBS, ABC, all the big MSMs you name it, we just don't get those, state only channels that starts with KWOT14 etc etc.

reply to post by blupblup


That video is something else. I'm Obijwa and technicly, this was MY land before her family came along a few hundred years ago ... murdering, raping and robbing us of our land and well being...

Brown people go back to their country? LOL!!!!

...So anyway, I can forgive and forget. ...Although it is sad to see this girl thinks this land belongs to her...

Originally posted by FearEater
reply to post by blupblup

 

That video is something else. I'm Obijwa and technicly, this was MY land before her family came along a few hundred years ago ... murdering, raping and robbing us of our land and well being...

Brown people go back to their country? LOL!!!!

...So anyway, I can forgive and forget. ...Although it is sad to see this girl thinks this land belongs to her...

The funny thing is, so many kids now a days are 2nd generation Canadians, meaning their parents was born in Canada. They know more about Canadian values more than their own. To tell you the truth, only time i speak my native language is when im talking to my grandparents.

reply to post by FearEater




I know... she is a complete idiot.... has literally no clue about life or people and is just attention seeking.
Nobody just starts thinking this way for no reason, she has to have been around friends or have family or something that share these views.


And I'm glad that it's actually a small percentage that think this way.

Most people just get on and realise and enjoy the fact that people are people, regardless of what colour or religion or nationality they are.

But there are always going to be ignorant, thick and embarrassing idiots like this girl.... and sadly far worse than her too.

Originally posted by luciddream
Brampton is not too far from where i live(Toronto), granted it is another city and about an hr drive but i would assume similar environment, i went to school in Toronto my entire life (excluding preschool/kindergarten), i never seen a racial fight, i mean, there is always that name calling, but its never serious. i believe the only big fight i seen was between a black and white guy which got bigger when their friends joined, but it was broken up in few minutes.

Most of the time, everyone gets along with everyone, people do hang around with their race during breaks and whatnot, but when it class time, its all mixed and everyone laughs at everyone jokes, you don't even feel different.

i sometimes see some parents "giving that look" when they come to pick up their child because they might be handing around with their a "different" kid, but the parents probably grew up in a different environment/time.

edit on 4/18/2012 by luciddream because: (no reason given)

How often do you see interracial couples?

Originally posted by CaptainNemo

Originally posted by luciddream
Brampton is not too far from where i live(Toronto), granted it is another city and about an hr drive but i would assume similar environment, i went to school in Toronto my entire life (excluding preschool/kindergarten), i never seen a racial fight, i mean, there is always that name calling, but its never serious. i believe the only big fight i seen was between a black and white guy which got bigger when their friends joined, but it was broken up in few minutes.

Most of the time, everyone gets along with everyone, people do hang around with their race during breaks and whatnot, but when it class time, its all mixed and everyone laughs at everyone jokes, you don't even feel different.

i sometimes see some parents "giving that look" when they come to pick up their child because they might be handing around with their a "different" kid, but the parents probably grew up in a different environment/time.

edit on 4/18/2012 by luciddream because: (no reason given)

How often do you see interracial couples?

It quite common i guess(also i see a lot of girls that are mixed, so i assume their parents are mixed lol), im not sure what to compared it to, but i know many of my friends in high school had Asian girlfriends, and its common for a avg group of friends to have at least 3-4 different race groups.

i would definatly say, Canada is more multicultural, especially cities like Toronto, and Vancouver.