Laguna Hills High School Need to Wake Up to their Racist Culture
How one Laguna Hills student was caught on video hurling racial slurs at a Black Laguna Hills basketball player
The mother of the harrassed Laguana Hills High Basketball player shared a video on Instagram which was viewed more than 75,000, where a student was heard yelling disgusting, racist insults throughout the entire game at her son. The video is now circulating on social media.
According to the mother, the Laguna Hills High boys basketball program fosters a culture of aggression, unsportsmanlike conduct, and racism which is confirmed by her video on Instagram.
Even before the game where her son experienced racial slurs, the family was well aware of the school’s racist culture and was uneasy regarding being in the school’s environment.
Also, the Brown family accused David Yates, Laguna Hills’ High school head varsity basketball coach of being aggressive and verbally abusive. This coach is known for cussing out his own table, his players, and his assistant coaches according to the president of the Portola girls’ basketball booster club.
The Saddleback Valley Schools Supt. Crystal Turner conveyed that action has been taken after hearing the video and that she condemned the language used in the video.
After the footage of the entire game was viewed, interviews of attendees who sat near the attendee who made the remarks, the identity of the Laguna Hills High student was confirmed.
Since knowing the identity of the student, according to the school, action has been taken but the school did not disclose what that action was taken. If the action taken measured up to the crime, why the silence? A slap on a wrist will not change this type of racist climate and behavior
The student was counseled and disciplined. The public, families, and communities need to know what discipline occurred and what counseling entailed. Transparency is needed to stop this infested racist behavior that appears to be rooted in the school’s climate and Orange County communities.
This is not the time for a lot of lip service, strategic action is needed. Students have been advised to report such racist behavior and abusive language upon hearing it to school administrators. The student government representatives and their advisors are discussing how best to make changes to deter racial division.
Irvine City Council members and the Mayor, Farrah Khan, have expressed their regret, support moving forward to deal with such a debilitating racist climate, and her expectation of the Laguna Hills High School, the City of Laguna Hills, and Saddleback Unified to take immediate action in fixing themselves. Vice Mayor Anthony Kuo referred to the video “really offensive” and has vowed accountability from the responsible party.
There has been other racist outburst in the recent past at Orange County high schools and sporting events in recent years. In 2019, a Santa Margarita Catholic High School student was expelled for sharing a racist video on Snapchat, and this same year racist slurs at a football game hosted by San Clemente High School against San Diego’s Lincoln High School were heard.
An investigation followed, the Lincoln students advised that they were subjected to racial slurs, and the investigation confirmed two individuals in the restroom used racial epithet when addressing a Lincoln High School student and derogatory words were heard in the bleachers. The identity is these persons were kept secret and whether any discipline occurred is yet a question mark. Worse yet, the San Clemente security guards and staffers ignored “repeated requests for assistance” from Lincoln students.
In conclusion, these students who are manifesting their racist attitude didn’t just wake up one morning and become a racist, they have learned this from someone in their family or community.
Therefore, racism needs to be addressed on a much bigger level than a school system. There need to be more laws enforced against this type of racist behavior where stiff fines and penalties should be mandated and used as a deterrent in schools, communities, churches, and government.
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