Would you cringe if you knew we live in a world where red-colored hair is considered “disgusting”? One mother of a 3-year-old boy met her worst nightmare when she realized her son was being bullied for his hair color. Mother Lauren Russel learned that her son was being called ugly on the bus because of his hair.
Lauren took to Facebook to share her incident with the world. She did this in hopes that everyone would read it and take the message away from it that this kind of behavior is never acceptable. She hopes that by spreading awareness of this, bullying will soon be stopped once and for all.
Lauren’s post detailed the comments that were said to her son and how he felt upon hearing such comments. The full Facebook post read:
“Today my heart broke in two.
Whilst travelling on a public bus number 12 I witnessed such cruel behaviour towards my 3 year old son from a very narrow minded boy who couldn’t be much older than 13. Unfortunately this hasn’t been the first time and I know it won’t be the last.
He’s been targeted by people of all ages.
And what for? Because he has ginger hair. My beautiful boy was told social services should have taken him away because his hair colour is disgusting.
The boy then turned to his friend and said if he ever had a ginger child he would kill it.”
“Now my little boy is only 3 and was left very confused. I feel devastated as I too have ginger hair and [know] all too well what it’s like to grow up being singled out/ the target of such bullies.
He hasn’t stopped asking me why people don’t like his hair.
He asked me if I could change it for him so people will like it. He asked me if he could be like his brother who doesn’t have ginger hair.
I can feel my heart breaking every time he asks me.
My little boy looks so sad and I want to make it better. The reason I am trying to go public with this is because I know these cruel bullies are in the minority.”
“I want to show my little boy that there is more good in this world than bad.
There are kind and caring non judgmental people who won’t ever single him out. I ask you all to please share this and show my boy how beautiful he is.
I want to show him the good in this world with the power of Facebook.
It isn’t okay to bully somebody for their hair colour, not now. Not ever. Thank you.”
Be sure to SHARE Lauren’s story to spread awareness about bullying.
Kat Coco says
I am a natural red head. I was also bullied at a young age for my hair color and freckles. You are not alone, son. If so many people find red hair disgusting, why are so many people dying their hair red now? People like that bully are sad because their life sucks. He could be getting bullied himself. Your hair is gorgeous and if no one wants to be your friend because of it, I will be. You are BEAUTIFUL and don’t let anyone tell you otherwise!
Linda Guthridge says
Same for me. And now that I am an adult, everyone loves my hair. Go figure.
Karen says
I was a natural red head & was bullied at school for it. I started to hate having red hair that once i reached the age of 16 i started to dye it.
I now realise at the age of 58 that i was unique & my hair was beautiful but when you are bullied it seems to penetrate your brain that you are a disgusting person because people tell you that & uou start to believe them.
I have 9 grandchildren & 3 of them are red heads & they have the most beautiful red hair. People who dye their hair never get the exact natural red hair that red heads are born with.
I would love my red hair back but unfortunately im going dreadfully grey so iam now a blonde.
Never let anyone tell you you are ugly
They are only jealous. God made you that way & he loves you.
You are Beautiful.
Amy says
I grew up with red hair and freckles..was very hard..
Realized they were just jealous
Patrick Murphy says
Yeah, I was also one of those kids who grew up with red hair, freckles and pale skin…..As Irish looking as anyone could be!……On top of that, we moved a lot, so I went to many different schools and had to endure abuse over and over……I remember taunts like “Red, Red, pissed the bed, five cents a cabbage head” driven into my memory…….But I got through it!………In my late teens, as my hair had became more of a darker red- auburn, a friend of my mother’s commented how she “would die” to have my hair color!…..So take heart all you kids with red hair and remember the story about “The Ugly Duckling”.
Harold says
My favorite football player has red hair, Andy Dalton quarterback for the Cincinnati Bengals. I think he is the greatest just like you are great.
Mona Dempsey says
Hey, God gave us a special blessing to be redheads, I am, all thru. our families are red heads, we were not bullied, but complimented for our hair color, and many people go to become bottled redheads, so, tell the bullies you are one of Gods favorites, and you were lucky to be blessed by His choice, not everyone is chosen! 🙂
Michelle League says
I have a red headed Grandson and he is My Pride and Joy. I also have a red headed nephew who is one of the best men on the planet. Don’t judge!!
Lynette Mitchell says
I married a young man whom had red hair and always thought it was his crowning glory,as he got older his hair was a beautiful colour and he never lost any as he aged I always thought his hair was beautiful just before he passed away his beautiful red hair went a gorgeous Champagne colour and he was always so proud of his hair,it doesn’t make the person no colour does that because they have a heart and as much a person as any other coloured hair person be very proud because we are all not the same if we were what a sad world it would be I loved him red hair fair skin and because he was just the best
Lynette Mitchell says
I also have a red hair Grandson when he was born his Grandfathers were so proud because they were both red heads I also loved him and marveled at red curly hair since when does red hair make you any less of a human being,the little boy should be proud because chose him to have different courted hair I for one red hair and I am one proud woman and Grandma ,my grandson is in the army red curly hair and is a wonderful human being just like his Grandfather and I am truly blessed and proud ,so hold your head up high and ignore these jealous children because they most likely want to have red hair just like you that’s why they are being so rude tell them God chose you to be special and different but he also made you as a kind human being walk tall young man
Susan McGinnis says
We have 3 red headed grandkids. I hope & pray they are NEVER ridiculed or bullied because of their beautiful hair color. I’m so saddened about what’s happening to your sweet little boy. I hope it stops completely, very soon.
Karen says
OMG. What’s wrong with this world. My girl is strawberry blonde. Her daughter got red hair, then her two girls have red hair, and her son will too. He’s bald currently. Newborn. Redheads run in our family. Everyone loves our babies and their hair. I hope things get better for you and your family.
Joan Johnson says
There will always be some dummy who comes along so insecure in his own skin that he/she has to ridicule someone different from him/her. It is a shame we have to teach children that may appear different how to respond or not when they are bullied. It takes a village to teach tolerance to everyone. It is my prayer that one day everyone is accepted by everybody for their qualities. No one should ever be ashamed of how they look.
Joanne says
Your boy is very handsome and brave. That boy wss obviously jealous. Tell him to be proud of who he is.