News Belgian school under fire for racist photo (2 Viewers)

[trulychoi]

(See photo at the bottom)
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A Belgian school has been criticized for sharing a photo of students dressed in stereotypical Chinese clothing, making racist gestures and holding a sign that alludes to the new coronavirus.

According to activist Instagram account @broodjekaasmetsambal, the photo in question was shared on the official Instagram account of @CollegeWaregem, a school in Belgium. The photo has since been deleted and the account has been deactivated.

According to the Independent, the school in question has been identified as Sint-Paulus school campus College Waregem, a secondary school in Waregem, Belgium.

The school has since released a statement regarding the incident, writing: “They chose an outfit long beforehand, in this case even long before there was any mentioning of the coronavirus. The students alluded to the recent events in a playful way by adding a sign.”

“Neither the school team, nor the students involved have ever had the intention of adopting a condescending or offensive attitude,” the statement continues. “Nonetheless, the school would like to express its apologies publicly and explicitly through this statement.

“We did not estimate the consequences of publishing this picture correctly and we regret having offended certain population groups by it.”

The Instagram account that published the photo after it was deleted is calling for the school to take more responsibility.

“In the meantime, the school has silently removed the photos, but this certainly does not solve the problem and shows once again how much it is necessary to deal with racism and discrimination in education,” the caption reads.

“As an educational institution, you have a very large influence on the future generation. The fact that you approve of this kind of behaviour and promote it yourself on your channels is far from responsible and shows that something is wrong with you.”

Spoiler

 

[trulychoi]

Literally hasn't been the first time something racist has spread online from Belgium. I still remember that, 'Dress Like an Arab' day at another Belgium school. And then people wonder why I get so heated whenever I see European's claiming things related to race as "just and American thing". As if racism isn't constantly happening in one of their countries- the only difference being that Americans call attention to it while Europeans just choose to ignore it, stay ignorant about it, or pretend that it doesn't happen and their country is so """"""progressive"""""".

Pisses me off to no end.

 

[Belgizen]

OF COURSE IT IS FREAKING WAREGEM
OF COURSE
It so sad that people from my country dare to do stuff like that
and even more sad that our parents raise us to be racists.
Especially in their region, the people there are very old school

Belgium has a serious problem when it comes to racism but nothing gets done about it.
This is one of the reasons why I wanna leave
I don't want to work and give my money to a country full of racists

 

[Belgizen]

Literally hasn't been the first time something racist has spread online from Belgium.

Well it's no wonder. We get raised like racists. Even I have been raised to look at people from somewhere else as "the terrorist" or "the person with the squinted eyes who is obsessed with white people".
A lot of us can't even get into a relationship with a dude from another ethnicity or we get kicked out.
Belgians are proud and want to live how it used to be around the 40's.
The fact that an extreme-right racist party was the 3rd biggest party doesn't help either.
Since then, lots of people want foreigners out and want Flanders to become independent

There is a serious problem going on in our country but instead of doing something, they want to strengthen the "Flemish identity"
Flanders is the worst. Wallonia is more left/socially based and welcome foreigners

 

[yeji]

OF COURSE IT IS FREAKING WAREGEM
OF COURSE
It so sad that people from my country dare to do stuff like that
and even more sad that our parents raise us to be racists.
Especially in their region, the people there are very old school

Belgium has a serious problem when it comes to racism but nothing gets done about it.
This is one of the reasons why I wanna leave
I don't want to work and give my money to a country full of racists

come live with me babe

 

[yeji]

it's sad that such mindset still exists

 

[Belgizen]

come live with me babe

can I?
I can live under your bed

 

[blueberries]

Literally hasn't been the first time something racist has spread online from Belgium. I still remember that, 'Dress Like an Arab' day at another Belgium school. And then people wonder why I get so heated whenever I see European's claiming things related to race as "just and American thing". As if racism isn't constantly happening in one of their countries- the only difference being that Americans call attention to it while Europeans just choose to ignore it, stay ignorant about it, or pretend that it doesn't happen and their country is so """"""progressive"""""".

Pisses me off to no end.

Well Europe has always had struggled with racism, but the issue that the American definition and way of approaching race doesn't always really fit. American approach comes from USA's own history and struggles. Europe's response to racism should come from it's own history and struggles, not with concept made in another continent trying to be used in places where it doesn't really fit.

 

[Belgizen]

it's sad that such mindset still exists

YES
and I don't see it changing in the next century tbh
Even youngsters hardly go outside their "online bubble" so they keep getting the same racist info.
It was only when I joined forums when I was 18(!!) that I knew that the n-word was racist

 

[yeji]

can I?
I can live under your bed

of course you can I will always have a place for you

 

[Belgizen]

of course you can I will always have a place for you

yisss

 

[Shimmer]

The outfits are one thing but the fact they held a sign called corona time is a whole new discussion , I have no idea why are people more scared of Asians now when the virus can affect anyone of all races :/