Bad Words in NCAA Tournament – Racism Alive & Well

It was late in the first half of Thursday’s second-round NCAA tournament match-up between Kansas State and the University of Southern Mississippi. Kansas State’s point guard, Angel Rodriguez, was fouled … not merely by a player on the court, but by Southern Miss band members in the stands who chanted “Where’s your green card?” These young adults need a lesson in history and geography, and a strong lesson in conduct. 

Yes, Rodriguez is from Puerto Rico … a U.S. commonwealth, whose Chief of State is the President of the United States of America. Mr. Rodriguez doesn’t need a green card. Even if he were from a foreign country, would it matter? It shouldn’t. The conduct of these band members is deplorable. It echoes a long American history of racism and xenophobia (fear of “strangers”, “foreigners”). 

As a privileged, white American woman I would love to believe that racism in this country ended with the civil rights movement of the 60s. Unfortunately, it hasn’t. The President of Southern Mississippi apologized to Mr. Rodriguez and vowed to take “quick and appropriate disciplinary action against the students involved in this isolated incident”. Regrettably, this is not an “isolated incident”. Sadly, bigotry, prejudice, racism – however you want to name it – is alive and well. These band members brought it out of the shadows into a very public arena. Just like a bumper sticker that I saw today which read: “Don’t Re-Nig in 2012”. I am appalled at both. There is a racial undercurrent in this country that all of us need to be mindful of and that we must cry out against when it rears its ugly head. 

The Southern Miss band members involved need to be reprimanded and reminded of Ephesians 4:29 – “Let no evil talk come out of your mouths, but only what is useful for building up, as there is need, so that your words may give grace to those who hear.” (NRSV) In other words, if you haven’t got anything nice to say, then don’t say anything at all. Don’t get me wrong. I fully believe in freedom of speech, provided by the First Amendment to the Constitution. What I don’t believe in is the use of any form of language that belittles, denigrates or harms any person. That’s just wrong. And I do not believe that racial epithets are what the authors of the First Amendment had in mind.

“Rash words are like sword thrusts, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.” (Proverbs 12:18, NRSV) 

What we need is more healing in this country and around the world. Only sincere dialog, rather than throwing painful words like hand grenades, can begin the healing process. Healing and social transformation are precisely what Martin Luther King, Jr. began with his Dream and the civil rights movement. But, racism, like so many diseases is insidious. Too many of us ignore subtle symptoms until we suffer devastating and irreparable consequences of the disease and succumb to it. We cannot ignore the symptoms of racism. We cannot permit those symptoms to go unchecked. We must continue striving toward the Dream, so that one day it will be realized and we will live together in peace. 

Merciful God, we pray for courage and diligence, to quiet those who would oppress - those who would harm others with their rash words of intolerance. Soften their hearts to see and appreciate the diversity of humanity that you created, so that they may finally love their neighbors as themselves. Amen.