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Detroit
NAACP
to
Almont
School
District
Superintendent:
"Fix the Problems"
Op-Ed -
Rev. Dr.
Wendell
Anthony
President,
Detroit
Branch
NAACP
DETROIT
– The
recent
response
to the
Denby
and
Almont
High
School
District
5 finals
by the
Superintendent
of the
Almont
School
District
is most
disappointing.
It
appears
the
Superintendent
is
placing
the
entire
responsibility
on the
backs of
the
Denby
players.
This
shows a
lack of
understanding,
sensitivity
and
creative
balance
to
resolve
not only
this
dispute
but to
use this
incident
as a
teaching
moment.
The
experience
of black
youth at
this
football
game in
which
they
were
spat
upon,
called
the
n-word,
pushed
and
excoriated
by
adults
supporting
the
Almont
team
must
weigh
heavily
on any
decision
made.
This is
particularly
important
as it
relates
to
discipline
or
accountability
for any
individual
involved.
Where is
the
evidence
of the
Sheriff’s
Department,
the
Oakland
County
Prosecutor’s
office,
or the
Almont
School
District
that
this
incident
was
stimulated,
motivated
and
perpetuated
by only
three
black
players
from
Denby
High
School?
Now is
the time
for
grown
folks to
act like
grown
folks.
There
should
be a
coming
together
of both
districts
to
address
this
unfortunate
incident
in a
manner
that
precludes
any
further
outrage.
The
Michigan
High
School
Athletics
Association
must
ensure
greater
diversity,
training
and
accountability
on the
field,
during
the
game,
and at
the
conclusion.
There
has been
no
coming
together
of the
individuals
involved
in this
incident.
It is
natural,
although
it may
not be
desirable,
for
young
people
to
respond
in this
way to
defend
themselves
or to
stand up
for
their
rights
as
demonstrated
and
reflected
at the
recent
game. We
do not
support
violence
or
verbal
abuse by
any
individual
or
groups.
However,
we call
upon the
Superintendent
of
Almont,
the
Oakland
County
Sheriff’s
Department,
along
with the
Prosecutor’s
office,
the
Detroit
Public
School
Community
District
and any
others
involved
to sit
down
around a
common
table to
resolve
this
issue.
Charging
students
who
clearly
were
standing
up for
themselves
and
protecting
their
rights
should
not be
condemned
but
should
be
understood.
This is
clearly
a case
where
some
have
reacted
on all
sides in
the
midst of
such
hostility
which
involves
not only
black
players
but
white
players
and
white
fans.
Now is
the time
to bring
folk
together.
It is
not a
time to
punish
one
segment
involved
in this
matter.
It is
the time
to bring
everyone
who has
a stake
in a
better
future.
Dr.
Martin
Luther
King,
Jr.,
said it
very
clearly,
“People
fail to
get
along
because
they
fear
each
other.
They
fear
each
other
because
they
don’t
know
each
other.
They
don’t
know
each
other
because
they
have not
communicated
with
each
other.”
It is
time to
communicate
a better
plan for
the
community
to have
a better
game.
The plan
right
now for
punishment
without
any
commitment
to
correct
this
negative
predicament
is
grossly
insufficient.
We must
and we
can do
better
than
this.
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