Racism in High School Sports

WHEREAS, racial minorities are continuously being targeted and met with racial violence during school sports games; and

WHEREAS, there have been numerous instances of racial harassment and race-based name-calling during high school sports throughout the country. Over the past year alone, alleged incidents of abuse by fans and students have been reported in California, Tennessee, Michigan, Vermont, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Oklahoma, Maryland, and New York, among other states; and

WHEREAS, for example, in California, a Black student from Buchanan High School received monkey/ape noises from a student at the opposing school during a penalty kick period at a soccer game at Oak Ridge High School in 2022, and; a Latina student from Buchanan High School was barked at by a student at the opposing school during a penalty kick period at a soccer game at Oak Ridge High School in 2022; students from the opposing team New Prague High School made monkey noises and engaged in racist chants towards Robbinsdale Cooper High School in 2022; and

WHEREAS, high school faculty needs to be proactive in protecting students of color from discriminatory and racist behaviors and proactive in condemning this behavior, and

WHEREAS, The NAACP stands opposed to discrimination and racist behaviors at school sports games in the United States of America.

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the NAACP calls on all Interscholastic Federations and all Federal Agencies that supervise sports under Title IX, across the country to enact proper sanctions toward schools using discriminatory and racist behaviors towards opponents.

BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED that the NAACP will urge all of its Units to work to identify and assist victims of racism in school sports, following NAACP procedures, and take action necessary to expose and halt those who engage, permit, and allow discriminatory and racist practices to continue to affect communities of color.