As jarring as it is when racism, ignorance and bigotry reveals itself honestly, I'm glad that it happens because it's otherwise too easy to pretend that these things don't still exist in 2012.
Just in case you thought racism was dead, the good folks at Pittsburgh Brentwood high school recently put their bigotry on full display, instead of hiding it in covert whispers and politically correct racial code words. Earlier this week, we also had the released of a splendidly revealing video of the nonchalant bigotry of a sampling of BYU students. It's a bad week for those who deny racism.
Last Friday, two (some reports say three) students from the predominantly white Brentwood showed up to a home basketball game wearing banana costumes and took the floor at halftime to taunt their black arch rivals from Monessen high with racial slurs, reportedly leading a Brentwood group in calling the Monessen team "monkeys" and cotton pickers."
CBS Pittsburgh spoke with two Monessen players, who said they were also called "cotton pickers" and taunted with monkey posters when they played at Brentwood the year.
Monessen basketball players Justice Rawlins said "I just don't understand racism nowadays because from what I learned in school, it's from the past."
From the past, but still lives in the present.
Brentwood high released a statement on Wednesday, denying the racial slurs and defending the banana suits because, apparently, there is a rich history of race-baiting attire at Brentwood athletic competitions.
After the game, the District conducted an investigation and spoke to a number of District students and staff who attended the game. Nothing has been revealed to indicate racist comments were made.
It seems students dressing in costume for athletic events is not uncommon in high schools and colleges. Two students did dress in banana costumes for the Monessen game. The District understands that these students have dressed like this for past athletic contests without incident. When these students at Friday’s game, though, ran past the section where Monessen fans were seated, causing agitation and disruption, District officials immediately ejected the students from the game.
Brentwood Superintendent Ronald Dufalla also defended the way his district handled the overt show of racism:
"There was an incident at Friday’s game that was dealt with
when it occurred. I think it was addressed quickly and handled well," Dufalla said.
If by "handled quckly" he means that the three students were allowed to enter the gymnasium with banana suits on, keep them on for the entire first half, and then leave the stands to hurl racial insults at the opponents, then yes, Brentwood staff moved very quickly. Good on you.
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