Photo via Twitter/Mike Frankel/SNJ Today
A Black high school wrestler was allegedly given an ultimatum by the referee. Either cut his hair on the spot, or his team forfeits. Enough is enough.
Buena Regional High School athlete Andrew Johnson was preparing to compete against another student wrestler, according to Yahoo! Lifestyle. However, it came to a screeching halt when the referee decided the Black wrestler's appearance wasn't fit for the sport. The source states he gave Johnson a few seconds to make a decision about his hair.
Reportedly, Andrew had his hair covered with a cap underneath his guard. Yet, the ref — Alan Maloney, as identified by Courier Post — felt that apparently wasn't good enough.
NOTE: It's possible he was jealous of the student's healthy locs, just from a look at the ref's own reverse bald fade. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ So, Maloney allegedly told Andrew Johnson to either cut his hair then and there, or the team would forfeit the match.
In the following video footage posted to Twitter by Mike Frankel, you see the Black high school wrestler on the side while a trainer chops his hair to the floor, as teammates come to encourage him in the process. Via the tweet, Frankel mentions Andrew as "the epitome of a team player" and continues as follows.
A referee wouldn't allow Andrew Johnson of Buena @brhschiefs to wrestle with a cover over his dreadlocks. It was either an impromptu haircut, or a forfeit. Johnson chose the haircut..." Black High School Wrestler Wins Regardless of Forced Haircut
That's right. As it turns out, Johnson didn't let the ref's discrimination phase or distract him from victory. Reportedly, in overtime, Andrew came out on top for his team...but most importantly, for himself. As you'll see from the video, it was an emotional win for the high school student, but definitely a mark for his character, resilience, and strength as a young, Black male in America.
Of course, this set the Internet on fire. The thing that has everyone upset is the fact Andrew's coaches and teammates didn't stand as a team. They pretty much let Johnson take the bullet for the team. This Black high school athlete has competed all season with his hair just fine. Now, all of a sudden, it's "against regulation"? If that's the case, his coaches set him up to fail.
According to Courier Post, Maloney has a history of discrimination and using racial slurs. The source states that, in 2016, a Black referee accused him of using the N-word against him. At the time, Alan Maloney told the local paper that he didn't recall using the racial slur. However, he did believe other witnesses' accounts verifying the other ref's accusation.
The f**k? So, basically, he doesn't put it passed himself that he did use the word, even though he "doesn't recall" doing so.
During the time of that interview, Maloney continued his nonsensical response as follows.
You know, people do make mistakes and I apologized. I really don’t think this should go any further than it’s gone anyhow.
But here you are making young, Black high schoolers chop off their hair on the spot...as if there aren't any Caucasian teens on the team with hair at similar lengths? Hell, one of the teammates walked up with a full-on high top. That's okay, but locs aren't? Cool. Maybe they should all have reverse bald fades then. Everyone just bald and angry across the board.
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