CHARLES CITY, Iowa (KTTC) – Jeremiah Chapman is a four-sports athlete; playing baseball, soccer, basketball and athletics at Charles City High School. The multi-sport and soon-to-be-senior black athlete is familiar with the inevitable garbage talk that comes in the sports world, but was unprepared for the words thrown at him during a double-headed game last week against Waverly-Shell. Rock High School.
“I’ve never heard comments like this, said all my life playing sports,” said Jeremiah. “There was a comment last year during baseball, but that was not close to what was said this time.”
It was after the fourth or fifth inning that things started to change for the 17-year-old.
“They started calling me Colin,” said Jeremiah, “… That made me assume they were talking about Colin Kapernick.”
Then, he stepped up a bit, scoffed at the opposite stands telling Jeremiah to “go back to the fields.”
“I caught another foul ball and then the comment came out that it should have been George Floyd,” Jeremiah said. “And that’s what really hit me, especially the time. Going through my head, I thought why.”
Jeremiah says the words are very deep. While he’s not sure where the source of the taunt came from, he thinks they were Waverly players.
“[After the game] I got in the truck, I put things on my face and I was crying, “Jeremiah said.” I texted my mother and said I didn’t want to play baseball anymore. I don’t want to play sports anymore. “
“My son loves sports,” said Jeremiah’s mother, Keisha Cunnings. “Hearing him say that hurts.”
“Children collect things from other people around them,” Cunnings continued. “This is clearly something that you have heard or said before and thought it was right or appropriate to say it right now, and that is what frustrates me.”
Both the Charles City School District and the Waverly-Shell Rock District acknowledged the incident.
The Charles City School District sent a statement of support to families and staff on Wednesday, saying the incident was unacceptable and quotes: “Our students should know that we have our backs regardless of the circumstances and that we are fighting shoulder to shoulder with they to end oppression and to create the world we know is possible. Our state and our nation need to know that our thoughts, words and actions are important. We must do better. We must be better. “
“Our superintendent and the top management of our schools took this very seriously, it was like doing it,” said Cunnings. “All of those things made me feel like, well, this is exactly where we should be. If I didn’t know, I know now, the people in our community really care and that means the world to us.”
As for the students who were reportedly teased, the Waverly-Shell Rock School District released a statement on Facebook on Thursday morning. It says, in part, a quote: “This behavior is unacceptable. We have no excuses, because there is none … We cannot undo what has been done. But we are using this as a learning experience for the responsible party and, we hope , for many others in our schools and communities. “
While Cunnings believes the apology was warranted, it is not enough.
“I don’t want to hear an apology,” said Cunnings. “An apology without action is irrelevant to me. So you’re just posting a public statement saying you’re sorry. Now what?”
Cunnings shared his heart on Twitter on Wednesday, with a tweet that says, “This is my boy! He’s kind, sweet and talented … if you can’t see beyond the color of his skin, then it sucks for you! And Alone and for your information … he’s never worked in a field … his name is Jeremiah, not Colin … he doesn’t care who you support politically … and he doesn’t remind you of George Floyd! “
The support flooded.
“This overwhelming support that we are getting only ensures that there are more good people than bad people in the world.” Cunnings said.
Cunnings adds “I didn’t expect it to explode like this at all.”
On the last check, I like more than 3,400 tweet.
“I was furious because the bear mom in me was like, oh no, not my daughter,” said Cunnings. “And then the other part of me was like, well, how are we going to get through this? What are you going to learn from this? How are you going to get through this? Is this going to make you stronger? Is this going to bring you down? What are you going to do? “
What is Jeremiah going to do? It will not prevent you from enjoying your senior year.
“I will continue to play baseball. I like it. Everyone supports me, I have everyone; family, friends, teammates, coaches,” said Jeremiah. “I’m going to keep being me. I’m not going to let this get me down and stop me from doing things I love.”
