Black College Football Player Says Teammates He Lived With Targeted Him With Racist Remarks – Blavity
Brook Williams had worked his entire life to attend his dream school, Aurora University in Illinois, and join its football team. But those aspirations were shattered after he said he faced racial discrimination from teammates with whom he lived off campus.
Williams dreamed of attending Aurora University and playing football
Williams always knew he wanted to attend and compete on Aurora’s NCAA Division III football team after his first visit to the school. According to him, it was everything he had envisioned it to be.
“I was so stuck on Aurora and like the picture they painted of the brotherhood,” Williams told Chicago’s ABC 7 in an exclusive interview.
The white teammates allegedly made racist remarks and offensive comments about Williams
His excitement about the school quickly faded after he chose to live with some teammates at their home to minimize his commute. Williams said he was allegedly targeted with racial slurs and offensive comments from them.
“One of my teammates had called me the n-word and was like you better not go in my room,” Williams alleged, according to the outlet.
In a separate instance, Williams said one teammate approached him while he was asleep and made a racial slur about him.
“Another teammate I had of mine came in, and was like, ‘What are you doing sleeping here? Don’t you guys sleep in trees?’ … In that moment, I knew it clicked, that he was calling me a monkey,” Williams said.
That was one of many alleged racial comments Williams said he faced from his white teammates, which allegedly began the night of Aug. 21. He was the only Black person living in the home at the time.
Williams alleged that the racist treatment from his teammates escalated after they made remarks about George Floyd. He said that was when he realized his life and well-being were at risk.
What did the school say about the incidents?
After filing a report with the school, the findings revealed that another player had warned Williams that on the team, “some of the guys are racist,” per ABC 7.
The school concluded its probe, stating that “there was no evidence that [Williams] had any motivation to fabricate the allegations … and it is clear something significant happened.”
It is unclear whether the school has taken steps to discipline the students accused of discriminating against Williams. He has since quit the football team and no longer attends the university.
‘No one should have to experience this’
“Sometimes at night, just lying in the bed, like, asking myself, am I enough? Like, did I deserve this?” Williams said.
His mother, Aisha Williams, spoke about what her son allegedly experienced and said she regretted not being there to help him.
“For the first time in my life, I felt like I could not protect my child and I’ve never had that feeling before,” she said, according to ABC 7.
The family has reached out to the NAACP for assistance. Meanwhile, Williams is leaning on his family for support during this time and hopes to play football for another team soon.
“No one should have to experience this and sadly, it will continue to keep happening and happening. So that’s why us as the Black community has to keep speaking up about this,” Williams said.
Aurora University issued a statement following Williams’ accusations
In the meantime, Williams and his family plan to take legal action against the school in the upcoming weeks.
Aurora issued a recent statement in response to Williams’ accusations.
“Aurora University is deeply committed to fostering a safe, respectful, and inclusive community where every student feels valued and supported. We take any allegations of misconduct extremely seriously,” the school said in the statement obtained by ABC 7.
“While federal law prevents the university from sharing details about specific student or employee matters, including internal investigations or outcomes, the university follows established policies and procedures when reviewing and evaluating reports such as these to ensure an expeditious and thorough review. Every report is carefully reviewed and investigated in accordance with these policies, and appropriate and responsive action is taken whenever policy violations are found.”
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