The mother of a second-grader at Hunter Magnet Elementary in Raleigh, North Carolina, is heated over receiving a letter explaining white privilege last month, WTVD reports.

Amber Pabon says the handout explained white privilege in the government, military, media and education on one side and in general society on the other side.

“I think the message itself is inappropriate because yes there is racism out here, and they need to learn about it. But let the parents do that,” Pabon said. “Because like I said, if she’s teaching him the way she knows, it could be completely different from the way I know. And me being part of the black community, I know different from how the white community sees it.”

The school says that the memo entitled, “Step 3: (Begin to) Understand the Concept of White Privilege,” didn't come from any of its teachers, but instead from the school's PTA as part of an initiative “focusing on generating awareness and empathy to create a safe and equitable Hunter Community.”

Pabon alleges that the handout's information was included in the school's curriculum and that her son received classroom instruction based on its contents, but a district spokesperson has denied that claim.

"He's 8 years old. What does he need to know about racism or white privilege?" asked Pabon.

Members of the school's PTA have stated that the information is meant for parents instead of students, and parents are given the opportunity to opt-out.

The PTA's initiative began during Black History Month.

Amber Pabon

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