Online racist comments cast pall over anniversary of teen’s suicide
REGINA The Schmidt family was already struggling on April 30, the anniversary of the day their teenage son, Kaleab, took his own life after suffering through bullying and racism at school.
Then the family learned Kaleab’s issues with racism still haven’t stopped.
Kaleab’s mom Sandra Barker-schmidt said one of her son’s friends posted a tribute to Kaleab on April 30 on Snapchat. Another youth — whom Sandra believes to be attending high school in Regina — posted a series of racist responses beneath the tribute, even after he was confronted by Kaleab’s friend on the social media site.
The youth initially stated, “he’s black” following up the comment with a vomiting emoji.
After Kaleab’s friend called the youth out on his comment, the youth made a further slur. The friend responded with, among other comments, “he was bullied because he was black and had so much potential man and he took his own life because people were so racist to him.”
Twice more the youth used racial slurs, scoffed that Kaleab “did it for attention,” and in response to another comment, expressed hatred for persons of colour, adding “haha.”
While Snapchat posts promptly disappear, Sandra said the friend took a screenshot. The friend then shared the conversation with another of Kaleab’s friends, who showed it to one of Kaleab’s sisters. Sandra said the family was distressed to learn about the comments.
“It’s very hurtful,” she said. “I’ve been so upset ever since I’ve seen it.”
Sandra wants parents to understand racism is still happening — and that it might be their children doing it.
“This is what kids are doing,” she said. “Have you talked to your child? I put a post on Facebook a while ago about (racism) and it went viral. So many people shared it ... And look at this again. I know it’s not going to stop today, but I think parents and people need to be aware it still goes on all the time.”
At an inquest earlier this year into Kaleab’s death, a jury heard the circumstances surrounding the April 30, 2018 death, which occurred on his family’s Balgonie-area farm.
The jury heard Kaleab and his two sisters were adopted by the Schmidts from Ethiopia and that he struggled with, among other problems, bullying and racism at his school in Balgonie.
Among the jury’s many recommendations were that instances of physical altercations, racism and bullying be properly documented and investigated and that bullying policy be updated and enforced.
Sandra said she’s contacted Regina Public Schools and the police, hoping something can be done.
“I know the kid (posting the recent racist comments) can’t be charged, but I think he could use a good talking to,” she said.
Regina Public Schools spokesman Terry Lazarou said the incident is being looked into.
“We do try, even in these COVID times, to ensure that all our students try to show our shared values in terms of respect in all communications, be they face to face or virtual,” he said.
“So if there is something we can do to limit (racism) or eliminate it, we absolutely will.”