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Press-Journal Photo/ Debra Schell~Steelton-Highspire’s girls basketball team has a lot to smile about, with a record of 13-3. But, the team was saddened when a fan at a holiday tournament painted his face black, considered a racial slur, in an apparent attempt to intimidate them. The East Juniata High School student was disciplined by the district.
A racial taunt fails to rattle Roller girls
‘Black face’ incident at East Juniata denounced, student disciplined.
by Debra Schell
Press And Journal Staff
: 2/3/2010
The Steelton-Highspire girls basketball team sits in bleachers at East Juniata Jr./Sr. High School on Dec.29, waiting for their turn to play in the Christmas Tournament that included three other schools.
In anticipation for their game, Coach Jeff Chisholm sent the girls to the locker room to change and prepare for their game against East Juniata. But just before Chisholm entered the locker room, he saw something that shocked him — a white boy, who had been sitting near the Steel-High team earlier, had covered his face with black paint.
“He didn’t have any paint on his face in the fourth quarter, but when I looked up at him before our team was to start, he had painted his face black and had an “S” on his forehead, I guess for Steelton,” said Chisholm.
The use of ‘black face’ is considered a racial slur. Chisholm is African-American, as are several members of the Steel-High team.
When Chisholm pointed the boy out to East Juniata’s athletic director, the response left the Steel-High coach cold.
“He just said ‘He looks ridiculous.’ He didn’t do anything,” said Chisholm.
“It touched me … this is the first time I have ever seen anything like it. I expected him to do something.”
Chisholm went into the locker room and told the players about the boy.
“We need to be better than him,” he told them. “Instead of taking it out on him, we need to take it out on the game.”
And that is what they did, winning the tournament, and being the team, said Chisholm.
Although the incident touched Chis -holm, his speech to the players before the game touched them, and kept them focused.
“Everyone got a little riled up when he told us,” said Jessika Williams, a junior at SHHS who has been playing basketball since she was 5.
“I thought he was mad at us because we beat his team the day before,” said Williams, a shooting guard and forward who has scored 870 points this year. “It [what he did] didn’t affect me.”
But Malia Tate-DeFreitas, a freshman player, had a different take.
“I felt scared,” she said. “I mean it has been so long … since there was racism.”
She said the student should be punished.
Foolish behavior
According to published reports, the student was disciplined. No additional information was provided by the district.
East Juniata Superintendent Ken Albaugh said last week the district was investigating the incident, even using video of the game to identify the student. He said the district would provide Steel-High with whatever it needs to resolve the issue.
“We do not tolerate this type of behavior,” Albaugh said. “We will address it fully and try to quickly resolve the situation.”Albaugh called the behavior “foolish.”
The Steelton-Highspire School Board was told of the incident during the Jan. 21 board meeting by assistant coach Tracy Spencer.
“They targeted us because we have a team with all black players and coaches,” said Spencer. “But we don’t look at it like that.”
Deborah Wortham, superintendent for SHSD said the district would inform Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association and send a letter to East Juniata about the incident.
“If something like this happens, we [the school board] should be informed right away,” said Wortham. “We are proud of our students and we will not tolerate disrespect.”
Bias incidents common
According to the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission there were 300 bias-related incidents in Pennsylvania between 2004-05. At that time, Dauphin County, with 25, had the second highest number, behind Philadelphia (57) and just ahead of Allegheny (24.)
A similar incident occurred on Jan. 5 in western Pennsylvania.
The Altoona Mirror reported an incident involving two students at Central High School in Martinsburg who showed up for a wrestling match against Tyrone Area High School in black face. The Tyrone team has three black wrestlers.
Central Superintendent Rodney Green told the paper the students were given the option of leaving the game or removing the paint.
The East Juniata school population is 99 percent white, according to a 2006 report prepared by Education.com, a Web site that provides comparative to information about local school districts. According to the site, state average is 75 percent white, and 16 percent black and Hispanic for school districts.
The incident hasn’t discouraged the Steelton-Highspire girls basketball from improving, said Chisholm. The team, which has endured many losses the last few years, is now winning games.
“We have come a long way, thanks to the support of the team and others,” he said.
Intern Aidan Bauernschmidt contributed to this story.
Debra Schell: 717-944-4628, or dschell@pressandjournal.com
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