A high school student in North Carolina was suspended after asking his teacher which of two possible meanings was intended by the word “alien” in a lesson.
Christian McGhee reportedly was repremanded after responding to one of his teacher’s directions on whether alien was referring to an illegal immigrant or an outer space creature.
“Like space aliens or illegal aliens without green cards?” McGhee asked.
After the incident, the school allegedly determined the phrase was “offensive and disrespectful” to Hispanic students.
“I didn’t make a statement directed towards anyone; I asked a question,” McGhee said. “I wasn’t speaking of Hispanics because everyone from other countries needs green cards, and the term ‘illegal alien’ is an actual term that I hear on the news and can find in the dictionary.”
According to McGhee’s mother, the young man is now “terrified” he won’t be able to get into college over the ordeal.
“He is devastated and concerned that the racism label on his school record will harm his future goal of receiving a track scholarship,” she said.