Sigh…
Last night I received what I thought was a regular update about upcoming practices/games/events surrounding the Alameda Youth Basketball league. I was floored when I finally read the message this morning:
Parents & Coaches,
I have just been informed by XXXXXX XXXXXXXXXX, one of our 6th grade boys coaches, that he has been receiving telephone calls from unknown children throughout the day in which racial slurs and epithets have been used. We do not know who is making these calls but if we find out that it is anyone associated with Alameda Youth Basketball, that person will be turned over to the appropriate authorities and, if it is a player, that person will be banned from League play.
I’m not even sure what can be said, except to express compassion for the coach (who’s name I have decided to keep anonymous) and outrage at these calls. One can only hope that they uncover who made the calls and that their parents will be equally upset and find an appropriate way to teach them a lesson in racism and cultural sensitivity. And by appropriate, I mean more than sitting through a two-hour lecture. Perhaps having to personally fund a trip for them to the Museum of Tolerance, which I understand is incredibly powerful in helping kids/people understand issues of racism and –ism/intolerance in general. (no side day-trips to Disneyland or Universal Studios either). They could perhaps report back to the 6th Grade Basketball division and explain to the kids there why their actions were inexcusable.
AYB is a well organization and it speaks well of them that they are alerting parents and coaches, have a plan for dealing with it, and that it’s a definitive and strong response.