A video of 4-year-old London James in tears has nearly 8 million views on Facebook. The Missouri child is crying on camera saying a girl doesn't want to be her friend because she's black.
Tomeka Merriweather says she recorded the video of her daughter on Dec. 4 after she picked her up from Kidsplay.
Kidsplay is a preschool and daycare facility in Manchester, Mo. Merriweather says she recorded the video to show the teachers that she wasn't making this up. She says at least three teachers at the daycare saw the video.
"One of the teachers told me they observed the little girl playing and they asked her about London and she told me the same thing, that she didn't like her because she was black and that when they told me they were going to talk to her father," said Jaimie Simms, executive director of the Kidsplay at two locations. Simms says this incident is not a reflection of the daycare.
Simms says the daycare staff spoke with the parents of both children. The staff says the father of the other child was shocked. She does not think the other child understood the context of her statement, and both children still go to the daycare.
Simms hopes parents have conversations with their children to help them understand sensitive race-related issues and statements.
"I just think we all have to remember that children are innocent. They hear things through media, unfortunately negative things at home. I would just say that parents need to really talk to their children, they need to explain to them that everyone is equal," she said.
The parent of the other child could not be reached for comment.
