Thank you for your feedback on my original commentary on the racist internet chat incident among Palmetto High lacrosse players. Because of that incident, my friend Eric Pettus, who is a lacrosse enthusiast, former collegiate player and coach, shared his experience with a former Palmetto High lacrosse coach. Let me reiterate this was a former Palmetto Lacrosse coach, not anyone on the current coaching staff. Children live what they learn…  

In the late nineties I decided that I'd volunteer to coach Lacrosse at a public high school in Miami and I called Palmetto High. I gave the coach via telephone my Lacrosse Playing Resume (which started at the age of 10 and lasted until age 40). Long story short, the coach invited me to come and meet him at the team’s game that day. They were playing Ransom Everglades Academy in Coconut Grove. My office at the time was in Coral Gables just across US 1. The coach (not the current coach) gave me directions and while doing so advised me not to stop my car in the black neighborhood. Needless to say when I showed up as a black man and announced that I made sure not to stop in the black neighborhood he was quite embarrassed. Open mouth insert foot and crawl under the table embarrassed. I didn't let his ignorance stop me from volunteering I volunteered at Ransom Everglades!!!

I’m sure coach thought he was protecting Pettus who he thought was white. Surely he might have been attacked had he stopped in the black neighborhood. Obviously, Eric Pettus didn’t ‘sound’ black to the coach. Surely no black person would have so much experience in lacrosse, right? Wrong.

Again, though uncomfortable and embarrassing to many, this is a teachable moment. We can allow this to swept under the rug or we can talk openly and honestly about race. The incident at Palmetto High is not likely an isolated one in our schools throughout this country. Once the Palmetto incident became public, the school district should have held a town hall meeting to inform the public on actions it has taken and answered questions of concerned residents. This is a serious matter. Don’t forget that in addition to the racist remarks, threats to kill were made.

There is a passionate exchange of viewpoints regarding this situation on the Facebook page of Around Pinecrest. Some commenters, who know the boys, say the boys are not racist, they were following others, etc. etc. etc. Newsflash, the boys either made racist comments or went along with the racist comments. Did any of them show support for the one black player on the team who spoke up about the offensive chat? If they didn’t, that makes them cowardly racists. Those children knew better. Let’s acknowledge the truth and move on from there. On the other hand, Pinecrest Mayor Cindy Lerner, who I admired even before this incident, is livid and thinks the team should be suspended for a year.

Unfortunately, there are many perfectly innocent Palmetto students who have nothing to do with hate speech, who will be painted with the broad brush of being perceived as racist. I was reminded that only 8 of the 40 players on the Palmetto lacrosse team were involved in this incident. Hopefully the remainder of the team and the student body outraged by the comments of their schoolmates, will learn from this also. All of the students need to understand that this situation is NOT about “dumb actions” or “social media responsibility.” This situation is about racism. Period.

I strongly encourage everyone to join in the community conversation, RACE-STORATION, 6-8:30PM, Thursday, November 12, 2015, Charles Hadley Park Community Center, 1350 NW 50 Street, Miami, FL 33142. We can't fix what we don't face.

“The Holocaust illustrates the consequences of prejudice, racism and stereotyping on a society. It forces us to examine the responsibilities of citizenship and confront the powerful ramifications of indifference and inaction.” - Tim Holden

 @vbyers

Judge Marcia Cooke was mistaken for the help by Ken Eskin, Bay Harbor Islands Town Council candidate.

“When dealing with people, remember you are not dealing with creatures of logic, but with creatures bristling with prejudice and motivated by pride and vanity.” 

― Dale Carnegie, How to Win Friends and Influence People

Surely Bay Harbor Islands Town Council candidate Ken Eskin wishes he’d never ever uttered the words “What family do you work for?” when he encountered Marcia Cooke in the condo parking lot, as she placed items in her car and he distributed campaign materials. Eskin, who is white, assumed Cooke, who is black, was the help. Cooke has lived in the area for twenty years and has been a federal judge for 11 years. 

 

Eskin said he sent Cooke a note of apology. He went on to say that the mistake was not racially motivated. Wrong again, Mr. Eskin, it was. He assumed…pre-judged… that Cooke, although dressed in corporate attire, was a maid. It didn’t dawn on him that she could be a resident or that she could be a professional woman. Shades of Levi Pettit, that was racist. The fact that Eskin doesn’t get that is…well…very unfortunate. 

Our perspectives, as individuals, are shaped because of our experiences…our family upbringing…etc. If we are honest, we have to deal with our personal shortcomings from time to time. Instead of pretending to be perfect, sometimes we just need to start with being real. 

Surely, Judge Cooke was caught off guard. Instead of driving away from Eskin, she could have used the situation as a teachable moment with him. One is rarely prepared for such situations unless they’ve already had a similar experience. Before he became president, Barack Obama  was mistaken for a valet. If Ken Eskin didn’t recognize the racism in the incident with Judge Cooke, perhaps someone else will and their perspective of Blacks and other minorities will change because of her racial profiling experience.

Legacy Magazine Honors Florida A&M University Drum Majors at the Miami Herald Black Heritage Celebration on February 27, 2015. From left, BeMo (Kevin Moyd); TC(Kenneth Harris) and Turk (Willie Hayward) show they still got it!

The marching band holds unparallelled significance in the culture of Historically-Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) in the United States. Unlike athletics, the marching bands at HBCUs were not crippled by the siphoning of talent to Predominantly-White Institutions (PWIs) after integration became the law of the land. The Marching Band is frequently the subject of many lively discussions and longstanding rivalries between HBCUs.

Back in the day, Drum Majors, the leaders of the marching band, were superstars among their schoolmates and idolized by high school bandsmen who dreamed of being in their position one day. The drum majors at FAMU and any other HBCU were well-respected student leaders. Members of the marching band are frequently the most visible ambassadors of their school and the Drum Majors are the leaders of that very important group.

Thank you to Legacy Magazine and The Miami Herald for honoring these gentlemen and acknowledging their contribution to African-American culture.