It pains me that instead of celebrating Center Grove for winning back-to-back Class 6A State Football titles as a result of its big win over Westfield last weekend. We’re trying to get many of the adults in that community to understand that the kid that went full Blackface on the ride home from that state title game was being racist and insensitive in his actions. Well…they know that but they’re defending his actions anyway. Not only was he wrong but the kids that took the picture and those that thought it was funny enough to post it to social media were wrong too.
I’m even more outraged that many of the parents in that community took to social media to defend the actions of this kid. Yes, he’s a kid and we’ve ALL made our share of mistakes. God knows that I have. However, this is a teaching moment for everyone involved and when you make a mistake the right thing to do is to apologize and move on.
You can’t say that it wasn’t a racist act because putting on Blackface in and of itself is racist and the kid learned it from someone older than he is.
Its very origin is racist. Blackface became popular in the US after the Civil War as white performers played characters that demeaned and dehumanized black people. We’re never going to get past this type of foolishness in this country as long as folks keep justifying racist and ignorant behavior.
Remember back during the 2018 basketball season when Cathedral went down to Center Grove to play? James Franklin Jr., an outstanding player for Cathedral at the time, was mocked for suffering from seizures while on the free throw line. He had brain surgery the year before to address the issue.
However, during the process they removed part of his brain to help correct the problem with the seizures. He was now back to school and playing basketball at a very high level. While he was on the free throw line a Center Grove student fell out and starting acting like he was having a seizure. Not only was he on the floor mocking him but the entire student section was yelling “Have another seizure” according to Franklin’s mother Tamieka.
Again, the adults in the community were trying to defend that behavior. Just like that incident three years ago, this Blackface incident is indefensible. Kids are only going to do what the adults in their lives teach them or allow them to do.
Center Grove and the kid at the center of this story owe Popeye Williams and Westfield a public apology. Again, this is a teaching moment. Use it to change the culture or shame on you Center Grove.
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