LEXINGTON, Ky. (WKYT) – Rupp Arena has been the home of UK basketball since November 27, 1976, but the Faculty of African American and African Studies in the UK wants the name removed. His reasoning is simple: Adolph Rupp was racist with his language and did not do enough for African Americans in the UK.
“But I think he also spelled the N word very clearly, and he didn’t use, if we’re going to praise one of the greatest coaches of all time, why didn’t he use his position to integrate the University of Kentucky? “said Dr. Derrick White, professor of African American and African History and Studies in the UK.
It is a debate that has been raging for decades. Adolph Rupp was racist? In 2005, former WKYT sports manager Dick Gabriel made a documentary looking for evidence to set the record straight.
“Many of the thoughts and opinions they have, whether black or white, I had the same opinions when I was younger before working on this documentary,” said Gabriel. “Little by little, we keep covering fact after fact that it didn’t go back to the idea that Rupp was a segregationist.”
No opposing former player, assistant, or coach said Rupp was racist. Rupp recruited black players? Yes, the two most recognizable names are Wes Unseld and Butch Beard, who then played at the University of Louisville.
“Is Coach Rupp less of a coach than Coach Bradshaw who led the desegregation of football? Something is wrong, ”said Dr. White. “Are you leaving this problem behind? And that is. That’s my opinion on this and that’s the way I think history will see it. “
But Dr. White points to a specific instance to validate his claim.
“Coach Rupp, in 1974, used the N word to describe the buildings that were demolished, the houses that were demolished, the black houses that were demolished to build the Memorial Coliseum,” said Dr. White. So, even in 1974, he is willing to use the word N. This is not a man in 1930 who may have been the phrase. But it somehow doesn’t evolve during the 44 years between the time he arrived at the University of Kentucky and when this interview was conducted in 1974. “
In a statement, the United Kingdom thanked the group for their concerns and said they would have discussions on them.
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