#BigortryBash Berlin

Berlin ‘Indians’ ... What’s wrong with this picture? (Hint: It’s about Berlin High School sports!) It’s a “Discrimination Celebration”! People are already speculating about which of the remaining 31 Wisconsin high schools will become infamous for being the last to actually join the 21st Century and end its discriminatory race-based sports policy. Will Berlin become infamous for being the last community to end an archaic race-based practice that research shows promotes stereotyping and discrimination? A small group in Berlin have planned what some are calling a “Discrimination Celebration”. While organizers call it a “Berlin Indian Meet & Greet”, some believe “Discrimination Celebration” is a more accurate description because the August 13 event “celebrates” the temporary delay in eliminating the School Board’s discriminatory race-based team nickname. Does it help a community’s reputation to actually hold a “Discrimination Celebration” to “celebrate” the School Board’s ability to continue a discriminatory practice based on race? Seriously? Actually celebrating” the ability to continue racial discrimination in the schools? A “Discrimination Celebration” will only further tarnish the reputation of the Berlin community and its residents and confirm the “label” in the minds of many outside Berlin that the Berlin community and its individual residents are “a bunch of racists”. Even if an individual has good intentions, any individual who advocates the same harmful practices that a true racist would advocate, shouldn’t be surprised when they are also “labeled” as “a racist”.