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Who is Sidney Rousey? Virginia Black student accuses teacher of forcing him to pick cotton during 'racist' game

Sidney Rousey was the only Black student in his class and feared he might 'get in trouble' if he didn't participate in the classroom game

ARLINGTON, VIRGINIA: Sidney Rousey, a Black student, claimed that he was asked by a long-term substitution teacher to pick up cotton with his face for a game. He stated that he felt pressured by his peers and the teacher to attend the game. 

He said, "We're supposed to put the Vaseline on our nose and pick cotton. I remember she asked for volunteers, and then everybody looked at me in the class." Further, he added,  "The teacher was looking at me and forcing me to go up there to play the game. I didn't really want to, but I didn't want to get in trouble with the teacher. So, I went up there to play the game and I didn't really want to."

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Who is Sidney Rousey?

Rousey is a Gunston Middle School student in Virginia. He is the only Black student in the class. His mother, Keisha Kirkland, stated, "I didn't know what emotion to bring out first. I didn't know whether to be hurt, upset, angry, or mad. It was a whole bunch of feelings. I came right back to the school the same day, and spoke with the counselor, and the teacher, separately. I spoke with the teacher first, and the teacher was not willing to accept the wrongness. She wasn't willing to accept the insensitivity of the situation. She just wasn't accepting his feelings and how he was hurt. She just wanted me to know they were having a whole lot of fun," said KOMO News. He also added, "She shut the door and she started, I would say, attacking me, saying, 'Am I a racist?'." Kirkland added, "She asked him in front of the class, 'Sidney, am I a racist?'."

She also said, "They immediately took him out of the class. They felt our pain. They were hurting us. That's what I needed. That's what I needed for my son. I needed him to understand as a village, we all stand together as one. He didn't get that on Wednesday." The boy also stated, "I knew a little bit about cotton and Black people. At the time, I knew about it, but at the moment it's like I didn't know. Now that I realize it, it made me feel even worse for playing the game. I knew this month was Black History Month, and I felt like people don't really care about our history. It makes me sad this happened to me this month." Kirkland added, "We have a long way to go. We have a very long way to go. I don't think it will be over. I never would have thought in a million years that I would have had to be standing here," Kirkland said. "You don't judge a book by its cover. And for me to teach them this and this happens to him, it knocks down everything I try to carve out for all of my children. That hurts."

What is the response from Arlington Public Schools?

Arlington Public Schools wrote in an official statement, "The activity, called 'nose dive,' was part of a list of optional team-building activities for 8th grade Gunston students to foster collaboration. Gunston administrators held a meeting with the student and parent to discuss their concerns and are investigating what occurred and how this activity was presented to students by the staff member. The investigation is ongoing. Gunston Middle School is committed to fostering a learning environment that is inclusive, safe and supportive for all, and does not tolerate discrimination of any kind." Frank Bellavia, a district spokesperson, said, "Other students participated. The activity featured a player from each team taking turns. Using only their nose, the players were challenged to move the cotton balls one at a time from one end of the table to a bowl at the other end of the table. The object was [to] see who could move the most cotton balls."