HUSSAIN'S STORY - Who's insulting?
 

Hussain: So he was saying about insults and things.....

Jamie: Yeah, we're supposed to be talking about name-calling and that.

Terry: Everybody gets called names. I can't see what's the big deal. I just call them a name back.

Jamie: So what do you get called then? Annoying little prat? Seems all right to me. I mean, it's not an insult if it's true is it?

Hussain: I'm black. Are you saying that if people call me names because of that it's not an insult?

Sarah: Yeah. How about if people call you Gyppo?

Jamie: I'm not a gyppo, I'm a gypsy or at least my family is. There's a difference. I might call Hussain black, but I might not call him one of those other words.

Hussain: Yeah, you might not, but you did last week.

Jamie: Okay, but I was mad at you wasn't I? You knocked me over in football. I didn't really mean it.....

Kelly: What did you call him then?

Jamie: You know, think about it! The n word.

Kelly: But I can't see what you're on about, you're his mate why shouldn't you call him that? I listen to rap music a lot and they're always calling each other that. If they can do it how come it's a big deal if you're white?

Hussain: I don't care about that, I just know I don't like it. When someone calls me that I just know it's an insult. Anyway, this is Brighton, I'm from Zaire, how am I supposed to know about American rappers? Just because I'm black?

Sarah: Maybe it's like, I dunno, I hate it when people call me things because of my size, right, but I've got this friend who's about the same size as me and we call each other all kinds of things. It's not the same then, because I know she's like me and she doesn't mean it as an insult. We're sort of insiders, so the words don't hurt.

Jamie: I guess I can see what you mean, but we never insult each other for being Travellers. Maybe we get it too much from other people.

Sarah: Oh yeah? You ever walked down a corridor here and been called names by half the people you pass?

Hussain: Being called names because you're fat is not the same. I can't help being black.

Sarah: I didn't ask to be this size Hussain. It's really gets on my nerves that people think I just eat all the time.

Hussain: Okay, okay. Look I'm not saying you should do anything right? I don't have a problem with your size and I think lots of English girls are crazy with all their diets, but all I'm saying is, only if you wanted to, people could help you lose weight. It's possible. What am I supposed to do? Paint myself all over? Anyway, calling me names isn't just about me, it's also insulting my parents and my family.