Outraged Florida mom calls teacher ‘racist’ after she sings ‘monkey’ birthday song to 6-year-old black son
In the short video, the staffer filmed her class as she led them through the lyrics of the traditional birthday song. ABC10
A Florida mother is demanding accountability after her son’s elementary school teacher allegedly sang a racially insensitive version of the “Happy Birthday” song.
Desarae Prather said she was shocked when she received a video Monday showing her 6-year-old son, Legend, being celebrated at Floral Avenue Elementary School in Bartow. According to Prather, the teacher first led the class in the traditional birthday song, then asked Legend if he wanted to hear the “funny version.”
In the 43-second clip, the teacher snaps her fingers and launches into a jazzy rendition that includes the lyrics: “Happy Birthday to you. You live in the zoo. You look like a monkey, and you smell like one too,” before giggling and prompting the class to clap.
Prather, who shared the video on social media, called the performance “nothing funny” and said her son is now too upset to return to school, fearing ridicule from classmates.
“No child should have to go to school and feel humiliated by an authority figure, and that goes for any kid, not just my child,” she told The Ledger. “Now I have to seek counseling for him because he doesn’t want to go back to her class—or even that school.”
Polk County Public Schools responded on social media Tuesday, saying the district and its human resources team are reviewing the footage and the teacher’s conduct.
Prather said she has not heard from the district since filing her complaint and is calling for the teacher to be fired and issue a written apology. “I feel like she should own up to her actions,” Prather said. “My son is going to be traumatized for life. This is going worldwide, and I feel as if she should get fired, because that’s unacceptable.”
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