New Jersey middle schoolers teased with racial slurs during a basketball game, official says. The district is now investigating
The Lakewood Middle School basketball team of 19 mostly Black girls was up against a mainly white team 30 miles away at Russell O. Brackman Middle School when the incident took place on Jan. 12.
Inzelbuch says the first two quarters were played without any issue until the third quarter, when the students alleged the opposing team started teasing them.
“Many our kids come from poverty, so they don’t have basketball sneakers,” Inzelbuch shared. “They might be wearing different types of sneakers.” The girls’ coach wasn’t made aware of the event until after the game, when school officials were quickly notified.
Barnegat Superintendent Brian Latwis said the incident should’ve been presented to the coaches and referees during the game “so they could be addressed immediately” and not by going to the press.