Unfortunately, we are still living in an era of rampant racism, despite having supposedly eradicated it many years ago. While there are many people still just trying to live their lives without being oppressed, there are just as many who are doing the oppressing. In Tuskegee, Alabama, at a university football game, a player displayed his blatant racism after interrupting the cheerleaders and marching band by kicking a football at them. What’s worse is that it doesn’t look like he was reprimanded or punished at all.
The above video was posted to TikTok by @theandreatarai, which is run by a woman named Andrea Tarai. Tarai’s videos are typically focused on herself and daily life, though this one was very different. Instead, the video shows a football from the Tuskegee football team kicking a football into the performance of the Mighty Marching Hornets from Alabama State University. After the ball flies into the group, the player then rushes into the crowd and tackles one of the band members.
Alabama State University is a historically black university, and the act was seen as racist against the primarily black marching band. Plenty of commentators rushed over to the replies to condemn the player and his coach’s actions, especially since the situation was so public. It’s clear that the player wanted everyone to see what he was doing. In fact, just before the kick, he makes a rude gesture to someone off-camera.
According to comments, the player’s name is Lorcan Ryans, and the head football coach present during the game is Aaron James.
Tuskegee Football Player Tackles Might Marching Hornets Member
Various comments focus on how the player is likely there on scholarship, with one of the top comments saying, “Scholarship needs to be snatched and expelled !” Other comments also saw the blatant racism, with another person saying, “This was malicious. Yall don’t see the middle finger before he kicked????“
Fortunately, Alabama State University’s Vice President and Director of Athletics, Dr. Jason Cable, responded, stating that Vice President Reginald Ruffin of Tuskegee contacted him and he is “confident that appropriate actions will be taken.”
It is unclear if the ‘appropriate action’ will be an expulsion or simply a suspension that will prevent Ryans from playing for a few games. Regardless, I’d like to think that Tuskegee has taken accountability for their student and does something to prevent anything of the sort from happening again in the future.
