The Richmond Heights Spartans
The Richmond Heights Varsity Basketball
Team of 2011-2012 holds the crown for this month's B.A.D. Boy title. Known for
their quick tempo and exceptional guard play, this group of young men has
championed many titles to earn their B.A.D. Boy status: CVC - Chagrin Valley
Conference Champs 2010, 2011, 2012, Division IV District Champions 2011, 2012,
Division IV Sweet Sixteen participant 2011, Sweet Sixteen Finalist 2012. Might we
add, the Varsity players of 2012 were the first team in the school's history to
make it to the championship game for the Regional Conference. While we can
continue with an equally long list of
individual accomplishments on each player, it is important to understand what
made this team trailblazers off the court.
In February of 2011, right in the middle
of an undefeated 15-0 season, the young men decided it was high time that they
demanded respect from their coach who had been spewing insensitive comments
targeting the boys race, family backgrounds and socioeconomic status. Rather
than continuing to endure the coach's harsh and inhumane treatment and after
several failed attempts to reach out to school officials for relief, the team
decided to boycott. That's right!! In 2012 young people are fighting for civil
rights. Their teamwork displayed each night on the court became evident as they
banned together in an effort to remove the unwanted coach and make history for
students to follow. The boys actions not only drew media attention all over
America but it prompted State Senator Nina Turner to become actively involved
in scrutinizing laws currently in place that were being used to
prevent the removal of this coach. More significant, their subsequent
partnering with parents, resulted in complaints filed with the United States
Department of Education - Office of Civil Rights. After an investigation that
took over a year, this federal agency found that the coach was discriminatory
and that the school district was retaliatory.
This finding prompted a 16 page agreement
in which the school district is now required to change policies and procedures
that deal with diversity. The agreement includes district-wide sensitivity
training and organizing student groups that help to educate all of the children
in the Richmond Heights School District about their rights as human beings, as
well as providing the opportunity for students to learn about the beauty of
differences and the need for inclusion.
As the players transitioned from a basketball
team to BROTHERS ADVOCATING for DIVERSITY and tolerance, even they did not foresee
the impact that standing up for themselves would have on the rest of other
children in their school and surrounding communities. The Greater Cleveland
Delta Foundation Life Development Center has heard many of your stories too!
Our Black Diamond Finalists are being honored at the Gala Breakfast June 23,
2012 @ 9:30AM at the Manor Centre Complex. For tickets call 216.288BLACK or
click the link above that reads: http://blackdiamonds.eventfast.com.
