Racism on Kempsville baseball team no surprise to NAACP leader
VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WAVY) — A safe and welcoming environment in all schools and on all teams — that’s the new assignment for Virginia Beach City Public Schools days after longstanding racist activities within the Kempsville High School baseball team were exposed.
Remainder of Kempsville varsity baseball season forfeited over allegations of racism and harassment
Seventy years after Brown versus Board of Education and the genesis of White flight, the largest school system in the region is confronted by the persistent stain of racism.
From the high-profile stories questioning the field of business opportunities available to minorities on the Oceanfront to the field of dreams at a high school, the score remains the same.
Regina Mobley: What was your reaction when you learned that the baseball season had been canceled because of patterns of racist, activity involving the baseball team at Kempsville High School?
Dr. Eric Majette, president Virginia Beach NAACP: I wasn’t surprised because we’ve been dealing with racism for many, many years, particularly in the city of Virginia Beach.
We take you back to 1962 when the Fearless 38, as they were called, integrated Virginia beach public schools. Thorngton Russell said he was physically attacked while playing soccer at Kempsville Junior High School.
Previously: Dark chapter in Virginia Beach’s history hidden no more
“So instead of sending them to the principal’s office, she sent me to the principal’s office,” Russell said.
Sixty-two years later, racist activity involving the Kempsville High School baseball team prompted the school to cancel the rest of the season.
A statement reads in part: Kempsville High School has taken immediate steps to provide all coaches, activities sponsors and student-athletes with professional development and/or education plans that create a culturally responsive and inclusive team with an emphasis on VBCPS’ zero tolerance for racism, hate speech and harassment.
Here’s why the head of the Virginia Beach NAACP welcomes the commitment for change.
“People are not born racist,” Majette said. “That’s a that’s a learned behavior of society over of time.”
The Blacks who integrated beach schools in 1962 say they still have PTSD based on what happened to them decades ago. The Virginia Beach NAACP is calling on the schools to address how racist bullying has affected mental health.
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