The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People is calling on Center Grove schools to detail its plan to establish a more inclusive environment for students.
The NAACP’s call to action comes after photos circulated on social media of a white Center Grove High School football player who smeared black paint all over his face and neck on the team bus following the state title game in November. The display drew comparisons to blackface, a relic of the Jim Crow-era south. The term is used for the practice of non-Black actors wearing black face paint to depict caricatures of a non-educated Black person, typically a slave or indentured servant. The actor in blackface would typically exhibit Black stereotypes as well.
Center Grove schools needs to take proper steps to discourage the type of environment that leads to that behavior, said Indianapolis NAACP branch president Chrystal Ratcliffe and esquire chair Roderick Bohannan in a letter to Center Grove schools superintendent Rich Arkanoff.
“Our thought is that the atmosphere on the bus and within the athletic department is a product of an overall school environment that allows for such negative behavior, because the district does not have proper measures and mechanisms in place to create an atmosphere where all are considered equal,” the letter said.
“While we applaud the initial response from Center Grove Principal Dr. Jeffrey Henderson, who included an apology and expressed intent to investigate, we are deeply concerned that the district has not yet sufficiently dealt with this matter and the underlying culture of the school and district that led to this unfortunate event.”
The Indianapolis NAACP asked for a detailed strategy from Center Grove schools on future efforts to bolster cultural awareness, and for the student to face appropriate discipline, the letter said.
School officials did not say how the student was disciplined, as that information is protected under the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act, Arkanoff said in a statement.
The students actions do not represent Center Grove schools, he said.
“The situation referenced in the organization’s letter was disappointing, hurtful and in no way representative of our school district, athletic programs or the citizens who live in our community,” Arkanoff said. “Our school district’s vision is for all students to receive an exceptional education experience. As an educational institution, we take seriously our responsibility to prepare our students to become knowledgeable, confident and responsible citizens.”
Arkanoff was not available by press time to discuss any specific steps Center Grove schools is taking to promote cultural awareness and racial sensitivity.
