Michael Brooks
Covington Catholic High School, a private school in Park Hills, Kentucky, has been at the center of several controversies related to racism. In 2019, a viral video showed students from the school surrounding and harassing 64-year-old Native American Nathan Phillips, an Omaha Tribe elder, during the Indigenous Peoples March in Washington, D.C. While some condemned the students' behavior as racist, others, including the students themselves, claimed it was simply a display of school spirit. Additionally, past incidents at sporting events, such as the use of racial overtone chants and wearing of blackface, have raised questions about the school's handling of racial issues. These incidents have sparked discussions about the role of discipline and guidance in addressing potential racism and intolerance within the student body.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Covington Catholic High School students wearing blackface | Students wore black body paint at sporting events, which was defended as being for school spirit and not racially motivated. |
| Racially insensitive behaviour | Students were accused of mocking a Native American activist and a group of Black Hebrew Israelites. |
| Incident | A video of the incident in which students surrounded and harassed Nathan Phillips, a 64-year-old Marine Corps veteran and Omaha Tribe elder, went viral on social media. |
| Investigation | An independent investigation found no evidence of racist statements by the students, but noted that they had performed a "tomahawk chop" and surrounded Phillips. |
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What You'll Learn
- Covington Catholic students wore blackface at a 2012 basketball game
- Students' chants have been described as racially insensitive
- Students were investigated for harassing a Native American elder
- Covington Catholic is known for zealous chanting and school spirit
- The school's students have been described as notoriously undisciplined
Covington Catholic students wore blackface at a 2012 basketball game
In 2019, a video compilation titled "Colonel Crazies Compilation Video" resurfaced on YouTube, showing Covington Catholic High School students with their faces, chests, and arms covered in black paint at a 2012 basketball game. The video sparked controversy, with many social media users condemning the paint as blackface and accusing the students of racism.
The incident brought Covington Catholic into the spotlight, with many drawing comparisons to a recent viral video showing a group of its students in a confrontation with a Native American activist, Nathan Phillips, in Washington, DC. In the video, the students, who were wearing "Make America Great Again" hats, appeared to be mocking Phillips, a Marine Corps veteran and Omaha tribe elder. This incident sparked a national debate, with millions viewing the encounter and questioning the behavior of Covington Catholic students.
While some condemned the students' behavior as racist, others, including the student at the center of the confrontation, Nick Sandmann, claimed that there was no malicious intent and that they were simply exercising school spirit. Sandmann and other Covington Catholic supporters denied any wrongdoing and applauded the students' conduct. However, the scene was not a surprise to everyone, as some had previously questioned the behavior of Covington Catholic students, known for their zealous chanting and aggressive behavior at sporting events.
Alumni of Covington Catholic defended the blackface incident, stating that it was part of an innocent "blackout" cheer theme and that the school's cheering section displayed the same behavior and dress against all teams, regardless of race or ethnicity. They argued that the black paint was a school tradition and a way to show support for the team. However, others pointed out the resemblance to racist blackface and the potential connection to racist minstrel shows from the 19th century.
The school and diocese responded to the incident by announcing a third-party investigation to gather facts and determine any necessary corrective actions. While the investigation's outcome is unknown, the controversy surrounding the 2012 basketball game and the school's history of controversial incidents have raised questions about Covington Catholic's discipline and the normalization of certain behaviors among its students.
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Students' chants have been described as racially insensitive
Covington Catholic High School is a private, all-male college-prep Catholic high school in Park Hills, Kentucky. The school has a history of excellence in sports and is known for its zealous chanting, with alumni stating that the school takes pride in its sports. However, some opponents at past games have described the students' chants as abrasive and racially insensitive.
One specific incident involved a basketball game during the 2014-15 season where Phillip Hawkins, a black player from Cooper High School, recalled hearing chants of "car-a-mel, car-a-mel, car-a-mel" as he stepped up to the free-throw line. Hawkins' mother, who was in the audience, was shocked and disappointed by the chant, which was seemingly directed at her son because of his skin colour.
Another incident involved a group of Covington Catholic students wearing black body paint at sporting events, which many perceived as racist blackface. While alumni defended the action as part of a "blackout" cheer theme, with no racist intent, others, including a basketball player who competed against Covington Catholic in 2015, confirmed the racial overtones of the "caramel" chant, stating that as the only black player, he knew the chant was directed at him.
In a separate incident, Omaha Tribe elder Nathan Phillips stated that he felt intimidated by a group of Covington Catholic students chanting at the Lincoln Memorial. This incident sparked a national debate, with some defending the students' actions as school spirit, while others questioned the behaviour and past actions of the students.
While some alumni have denied any malicious intent in the cheering, others have acknowledged that the students' behaviour could be perceived as obnoxious and racially insensitive. The school's response to these incidents is not known, but the diocese stated that there would be a third-party investigation to determine what corrective actions are appropriate.
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Students were investigated for harassing a Native American elder
In January 2019, a group of Covington Catholic High School students were involved in a highly publicized incident with Native American activist Nathan Phillips, a 64-year-old Omaha Tribe elder, at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C. The encounter sparked accusations of racism and harassment by the students, who were in the nation's capital for the annual anti-abortion March for Life rally.
Initial video clips of the incident showed the students, many wearing "Make America Great Again" hats, surrounding Phillips and chanting. The students' behaviour was widely condemned as racist and aggressive, with some interpreting their actions as mocking Phillips' cultural practices. The incident sparked a national debate, with some defending the students and arguing that their actions were misrepresented or taken out of context.
In response to the incident, the Covington diocese and high school initially criticized the students' behaviour as "opposed to the Church's teachings on the dignity and respect of the human person." They also announced a third-party investigation into the events. This investigation, led by a team with no connection to the school or diocese, reviewed internet activity, interviewed students and chaperones, and attempted to contact Phillips.
The investigation concluded that the students did not instigate the confrontation and that there was no evidence of offensive or racist statements made by them. Bishop Roger Foys, who oversaw the inquiry, stated that the students' reaction was "expected and one might even say laudatory" given the circumstances. The investigation also noted inconsistencies in Phillips' public interviews, which they were unable to verify due to their inability to contact him.
The incident and its aftermath highlighted ongoing discussions about racial insensitivity and the behaviour of students at Covington Catholic High School. The school faced scrutiny for its handling of past incidents and its discipline policies.
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Covington Catholic is known for zealous chanting and school spirit
Covington Catholic High School is known for its zealous chanting and school spirit, with students taking pride in their sports teams and displaying enthusiastic support during games. However, their behaviour has also raised concerns about potential racism and intolerance.
The school's student cheering section is nicknamed the "Colonel Crazies," reflecting their passionate and energetic spirit. While some alumni defend the school's traditions and deny any malicious intent, others have shared experiences that suggest a pattern of abrasive and racially insensitive behaviour.
One incident involved students chanting "caramel, caramel" towards Phillip Hawkins, a black basketball player from an opposing school, during the 2014-15 season. Hawkins, who felt singled out due to his race, recalled this as an uncomfortable experience, leaving him and his family disappointed and shocked.
In addition to chants, Covington Catholic students have also been criticised for wearing black body paint at sporting events, resembling racist blackface. While defenders argue that it was a blackout theme to show support for their school, others perceive it as a racist caricature. This controversy sparked further scrutiny of the school's discipline and values.
The school's students have also been involved in a highly publicised incident with a Native American activist, Nathan Phillips, and members of the Black Hebrew Israelites group. While investigators found no evidence of racist statements, the encounter sparked a national debate about the behaviour and intentions of the Covington Catholic students.
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The school's students have been described as notoriously undisciplined
Covington Catholic High School students have been described as "notoriously undisciplined". This characterisation has arisen from a series of incidents involving students from the school, which have sparked accusations of racism and intolerance.
One incident involved students wearing black body paint at sporting events, which many perceived as racist blackface. While students and alumni defended their actions as a show of school spirit, with themes like "nerd, business, whiteout, blueout, [and] blackout", the black paint was criticised as resembling the racist blackface historically used in productions mocking black people. This incident was further compounded by videos from 2011 and 2012 that surfaced, showing Covington Catholic students appearing in blackface at basketball games, yelling at a black opposing player.
Additionally, in January 2019, a viral video emerged of a group of Covington Catholic students surrounding and harassing 64-year-old Nathan Phillips, a Native American tribal elder, at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, DC. The students were also wearing "'Make America Great Again' hats" and were accused of mocking Phillips' chant. While an investigation found no evidence of racist statements, it noted that the students had performed a "tomahawk chop", a gesture considered insensitive by Native Americans.
These incidents have led to a perception of Covington Catholic as a school with disciplinary issues, and some have called for greater accountability and guidance for the students. The school's students have been described as "highly aggressive", "obnoxious", and "rambunctious", with their behaviour during sporting events and other interactions described as abrasive and racially insensitive.
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