A football coach in Frisco, Texas, allegedly made threats of racial violence against Black student-athletes. According to reports by the Dallas Morning News, the incidents occurred at Centennial High School.
Several Black and Latino students came forward to reveal how assistant coach Todd Campbell mistreated the minority players on the team. While attempting to speak with several players who were talking, Campbell allegedly pointed to a tree and said, “You see that rope over there, you see that tree back there? I’m going to hang you in that tree. I’m going to hang you by your toes.”
The players also reported that Campbell stereotyped the Black players when it came to athletics. He allegedly told several Black players that they could run fast because they “ate fried chicken and drank Kool-Aid.” And he called the Hispanic players, “essé” and “homeboy.” Both are terms used by some Latino gang members.
Parents and students initially took their complaints to the head coach, Ronny Mullins; and principal, Randy Spain. However, Mullins and Spain claimed that they disciplined Campbell on their own terms. But parents continued to put pressure on the two. They eventually filed a complaint that led to an investigation by the district.
Campbell may have felt comfortable using racially charged language because the school exists in a locale that has very little diversity. According to the U.S. Census, Frisco is 75 percent White and only 8 percent Black. The high school has a staff that is 4 percent Black, and 10 percent of its students are Black..
It likely became a situation where Campbell was allowed to bully minority students while other coaches and teachers did nothing to stop him. Campbell recently resigned from his position after the allegations were brought to light by over 50 students who complained about his racist language.
