Thanks for responding and I will agree that the kids had no idea that what they were doing could be considered racist. However, that does not excuse it as not being racist. What it does do is gives us as adults an opportunity to educate them.
Now football fan, do you really believe that just because teammates call one of there own a particular nickname that it justifies others outside of the team to do the same? If you do believe this, then please be very careful as it could lead to some major problems.
Try this for instance, while hanging around my nephew and some of his friends, I noticed that some of them used a certain racial slur when talking about some of their other friends. Now it is important to the story that I let you know that all these kids were African American and the slur that they used was the infamous "N" word. I let this behavior go on for a few days before I decided it was time to crush it like bug. So, I asked them if it was okay for a non-African American to call refer to them by the "N" word? They all said no in a very forceful tone. So, I then asked them why then do they refer to themselves with that word. They gave the same BS, cop out answer that the rappers give. Something to the effect of being terms of endearment. Basically, something they heard on MTV or BET from a rapper. They all said that it was okay for US to use it with one another but not okay for them to use it. They pointed out that Eminem has never and will never use that word in a rap song because he know that it would be disrespectful. Actually that's my translation as they said the black rappers would kick his butt. So, I asked them if they understood the origin of the word and of course, like the kids (teammates and others) using the Buckwheat word they had no clue of the real meaning other than it was bad. It seems that the folks at the game probably did not know the meaning of being called Buckwheat beyond having someone look like Buckwheat. Granted, the kids using the Buckwheat term probably did not even know that it could be deemed offensive. After I was done telling them how the word was used to make us lower than cattle they became very still faced. We talked (actually I talked) in detail and ended with me saying that they should never use that word when talking about themselves. I have heard on several occasions that a couple of the kids stopped themselves mid sentence and chose not to use the word while in conversations with friends.
So, how does all this relate to the Buckwheat incident? If what happened is like you said football fan and I believe it was as I was not at the game, then some very important lessons should have been had at both schools after the game. At BR folks should not have concerned themselves with the fact that their kids were being call racist. Rather they should have concerned themselves with why their kids were being called racist and seek to understand they why. At the other school, they should have been educated on the character Buckwheat to fully understand what the character represents. I would bet that once they understood it, the kid with the nickname would not want to have that particular name as a nickname. He would not let his teammates nor anyone else for that matter call him that name.
As older folks it is our responsibility to teach these kids. Many of them will not go on to play pro sports and will wind up a like many of us; hard working, caring, loving individuals in this thing called life. As such, we should take every opportunity to educate them on life and not try to buffer on defend them when they have done wrong. We should not give them excuses for their actions when the actions were deemed to be insulting. We should not supply them with the “They called him that first.” excuse over the “just because someone else does it does not make it right for you to do it” teaching. My attitude with the kids I’m involved with is EDUCATE first and PLAY BALL second. I tell them that how you respect and demand respect on the field is how you will do it in life. Some coaches don’t care for me but the kids go on in life to appreciate me.
To me it’s all about the kids learning, playing, and becoming respectful contributors to this society. Isn’t that what its all about? Its okay to say that we missed an opportunity to educate as I believe both schools missed an opportunity to educate based on how football fan said the whole thing went down. We just don't want to miss the next one.
I really appreciate you all sharing your view as these topic are important and won’t go away. We just need to be willing to communicate on them. Thanks TGN and football fan.
NOW, FORGET MONDAY NIGHT AS ITS FRIDAY! ARE YOU READY FOR SOME FOOTBALL?
Posted on Nov 21, 2003, 12:47 PM from IP address 205.188.209.77