[tomegun]

Rocky,

You can give examples and I can give examples. However, one of my examples is one too many. Your examples would be of a supervisor doing the right things which should be the point right? Part of the problem with any argument like this is the group that normally has smooth sailing fails to see the problem.

It really comes from a place of ignorance. I am ignorant to ever being able to show up and be part of the preferred group when it comes to camps, clinics, etc. I take that back, I did go to the SWAC camp one year. Others are ignorant to the struggle of being black and an official.

Some examples:
I know of one state where there is about a 99% chance that someone black will be on the highest level state final championship.

I know of one association that must have a white and black in the the assigner/assistant positions. Most of the officials are black in this association.

I know of a deceased supervisor that pushed white male official clones big time. He had a camp system (starting with a state in the middle of the country) and you could tell one of his guys by the way they ran.

I know of a guy that was coddled/protected at a major D1 camp and after several years of protecting him he is a NCAA tournament official. When I say coddled in camp I mean coached while he was on the court, "_________what are you doing? Don't call that..." in a hushed tone. I heard it with my own ears.

One beef I have had with one area I have lived is that established black officials want another black official to be perfect before they will speak up for them. That speaks to how those established officials are viewed - they have to present a near perfect official to the supervisor.

I could go on and on. I have seen the politics in three different parts of the country that all have different racial makeups. It is an interesting thing to see. The one thing I wish would happen is that people that have never been in the group without privilege would really think, listen and show empathy before opening their mouth to say these things don't happen.