A white Florida teacher is under investigation after singing a “funny” version of Happy Birthday to a six-year-old Black pupil that included the lyrics “you look like a monkey”, sparking nationwide outrage and death threats.
The incident at Floral Avenue Elementary School in Bartow has gone viral on social media after Legend Whitaker’s mother, Desarae Prather, shared footage of the 29 September classroom celebration. The teacher, who filmed the incident herself, can be heard singing “Happy birthday to you, you live in the zoo, you look like a monkey, and you smell like one too” whilst snapping her fingers in a jazzy style.
Polk County Public Schools confirmed they are reviewing the incident through their HR department, stating they “understand and share the concerns about the teacher’s actions and judgement”. The district emphasised that as a public school system serving “students and families of all cultures and backgrounds”, they expect employees to “always keep that in mind as they interact with others”.
Mother Demands Teacher Be Sacked
Ms Prather, 28, told local media she was left stunned when the teacher emailed her the video clip on the day of the celebration. The outraged mother immediately complained to school officials but was told they could only relay her concerns to the district office.
“My reaction, it was I couldn’t believe it. It’s nothing funny,” Ms Prather told The Ledger newspaper. “I felt like you were being racist. You look like a monkey. You live in a zoo, and you smell like one, too. I don’t approve of that, and that’s you humiliating him in front of his peers.”
The mother said her son has been too upset to return to school since the incident. “He’s not even in school right now, because he feels as if people are going to call him a monkey, and his feelings are hurt,” she explained.
Ms Prather revealed she now needs to seek counselling for Legend, who cried at the thought of returning to the classroom. “I shouldn’t have to wake up every day to see that my son feels this way,” she said, adding that no child should have to go to school and feel like “they can’t confide in an authority figure without them calling them racial slurs”.
Video Goes Viral With Celebrity Support
The 28-second clip shows pupils gathered around Legend at a table in what appears to be the school’s auditorium. After the traditional birthday song, the teacher asks the boy if he would “like the funny song now”, prompting an eager nod from the child who had turned six just three days earlier.
As the teacher sang the alternative version, some classmates laughed whilst others appeared visibly uncomfortable. The video ends with the teacher encouraging pupils to applaud, saying “Whoo, give him a clap, everybody.”
The footage drew national attention after being shared by prominent figures including civil rights attorney Ben Crump, comedian D.L. Hughley, and rapper Diamond ATL. The viral spread across TikTok, Instagram and other platforms has reignited debates about racial sensitivity in American classrooms.
Teacher Receives Death Threats
Stephanie Yocum, president of the Polk Education Association, revealed the teacher involved is a “popular, longtime” staff member who has since received death threats as the video circulated online.
“Every single person in this country deserves the right to fair investigations and due process,” Ms Yocum said. “And it is a sad state of affairs in this country, no matter what side of an issue you end up being on, that people think that threatening somebody else’s life is acceptable.”
Ms Yocum confirmed the teacher has not been suspended whilst the investigation continues. She stressed the importance of allowing a fair investigation before people jump to conclusions about the teacher’s intentions.
Divided Reactions Over Song’s Intent
The incident has sparked fierce debate over whether the alternative birthday song carries racist connotations or represents a harmless childhood rhyme. Some social media users defended the teacher, claiming the “zoo” version has been sung by children of all backgrounds for decades without racial intent.
Others pointed to the painful historical context of comparing Black people to monkeys, a racist trope used to dehumanise African Americans throughout history. Critics argued that regardless of intent, a white teacher should understand the deeply offensive nature of using such language toward a Black child.
Ms Prather said she had never heard the alternative version before and firmly believes it was meant to mock her son. She told local media there’s a troubling history of Black people being described in such terms, making the incident “extremely upsetting”.
“My skin is boiling. I don’t even like racism, and to know where we come from, and our ancestors and for us to be labelled like that, because when they call us ‘Monkey’, they’re saying we’re ugly, we act like monkeys. Those are remarks I don’t like at all,” she said.
School District Under Pressure
The controversy has put Polk County Public Schools under intense scrutiny for their handling of the situation. Ms Prather criticised the district for releasing a public statement on social media before contacting her directly.
“Nobody called me, nobody has notified me or anything,” she said on 1 October. “But y’all can make a public post on Facebook instead of reaching out to me.”
In a letter to the school board, Ms Prather demanded an apology, immediate disciplinary action and counselling for her son. After receiving no initial response, she decided to appear in person at district meetings, where officials repeatedly told her it remained “an active investigation”.
Local news outlet 10 Tampa Bay has pressed the district with additional questions, including whether this was the first time the teacher had sung this version to pupils and whether she would remain in classrooms during the investigation. The district has yet to respond to these specific queries.
Mother Seeks Public Apology
Ms Prather insists the teacher should face serious consequences for her actions. “I feel like she should own up to her actions, I feel like she should write an apology to my son and my family, because it was unacceptable, and my son is going to be traumatised for life,” she said.
The mother added that with the story gaining worldwide attention, she believes termination is warranted. “This is going worldwide, and I feel as if she should get fired, because that’s unacceptable.”
Young Legend himself expressed his feelings about the incident simply: “I don’t like stuff like that,” he told reporters, adding that the song hurt his feelings.
Broader Concerns About Classroom Culture
The incident has raised wider questions about diversity training and cultural sensitivity in American schools. Education advocates argue the controversy demonstrates why comprehensive bias training remains essential for educators working with diverse student populations.
The footage particularly troubled observers who noted the reactions of other Black pupils in the classroom, with some appearing visibly uncomfortable as their classmate was compared to a monkey. One boy sitting behind Legend could be seen with a notably troubled expression during the song.
Critics have pointed out that in 2025, no teacher should need explaining why singing such lyrics to a Black child is problematic, whether malicious intent exists or not. They argue that educators working with Black children must understand cultural sensitivities and historical context better than this incident suggests.
Investigation Continues
As the investigation proceeds, the incident has become a flashpoint in ongoing American conversations about race, education and childhood experiences. The teacher remains in her position whilst district officials review the matter, though Ms Prather continues demanding stronger action.
The Polk County Public Schools district, which serves one of Florida’s largest student populations, faces pressure to address the incident thoroughly whilst balancing due process concerns. Their final determination could set precedents for how similar incidents are handled across the state.
Meanwhile, six-year-old Legend Whitaker remains at home, his mother searching for counselling services to help him process what should have been a joyful birthday celebration at school. The case serves as a stark reminder of how quickly childhood innocence can be disrupted by adult insensitivity, intentional or otherwise.
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