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Black family sues school after child reportedly called a 'wannabe white girl
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Black family sues school after child reportedly called a 'wannabe white girl

Alex Young and Toschia Moffett, black parents in Columbia, South Carolina, are suing their daughter's school for its reported failure to protect her against bullying during the 2015-16 and 2016-17 school years.

According to the complaint, the child was purportedly subjected to racially motivated abuse by her peers — who were also black — and was reportedly accused of "acting white."

Additionally, the lawsuit alleged that the daughter was subjected to physical abuse.

The family said that officials at Hand Middle School were reportedly made aware of the girl's treatment, but the school reportedly did not act in a sufficient manner to permanently stem the tide of bullying against their daughter.

Allegations of attacks

According to Columbia's The State, black students at Hand Middle School reportedly "called [the student] racial slurs like 'Oreo,' 'white girl,' 'wannabe white girl,'" and "generally maligned her for 'acting white.'''

The lawsuit also alleged that "in addition to being repeatedly pushed, shoved, and tripped in hallways and chased during recess and physical education, [the student] also suffered several notable physical assaults."

Other assaults against the student reportedly included having her face slammed with a backpack — an incident that reportedly chipped two of the student's teeth and bloodied her nose.

Additionally, the lawsuit alleged that the young girl was forced to hide in a bathroom stall to eat her lunch in order to avoid physical and verbal attacks by the students.

According to the lawsuit, several of the reported incidents were witnessed by others and had been captured by surveillance cameras inside the school.

"The harassment [the child] experienced forced her to finish the 2016-2017 school year from home," the lawsuit stated.

'Academically advanced' student

Young and Moffett's daughter is "academically advanced," and is a member of the school's gifted program.

The student is also said to be taking advanced courses at the school.

Christopher Bryant, an attorney representing the family, said, "This is an unfortunate situation, and the complaint speaks for itself. We just want to resolve this quickly and meaningfully so that this child can go back to being a child and that all Richland One students can learn in a safe, supportive environment."

When contacted by The State for comment on the situation, a school district official reportedly said, "It is our practice not to comment on pending litigation."

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