They play hockey, these kids. They love the game. They love each other. They love courage. Thus, when their thirteen-year-old teammate got taunted by other teams because he’s black, these white kids said no.
Not gonna take it. He’s our friend, so leave him alone. Cut out the taunts. Stop the putdowns.
And with that, something changed. Standing up for their friend, this scrappy bunch of kids from the Metro Maple Leafs in Odenton, Maryland, inspired the grownups — parents and coaches — to follow their lead.
Yes, stand up for a little kindness.
Or, as I ask on this Martin Luther King Jr. Day, shouldn’t we all be doing this? Standing up for each other? Holding up each other’s arms? Yes, turning toward each other, not turning away? For a brave answer, I look hard to the Bible, which teaches:
A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for a time of adversity.
Proverbs 17:17 (NIV)
Said another way by a brave mother in the Bible:
Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves; ensure justice for those being crushed.
Proverbs 31:8 (NLT)
I ponder these thoughts today, especially for MLK Day — this day of unity and service. First, however, I reflect on these sayings because of that hockey incident earlier this month. You might’ve seen it in the news. A black kid was taunted. His white teammates said no.
Reading the story, I couldn’t help but marvel at the clear-eyed courage of these determined, young teenage boys. Here was their friend hearing the worst. The n-word. Monkey sounds. One hockey opponent told him, “Get off the ice! Go play basketball!”
Referees might’ve heard this poison. Coaches, too. For sure, the black kid — Divyne Appollon II — heard the name calling often. Trash talk in hockey often comes with the game.
His response?
“I just learned not to get upset by it. I try not to even hear them.”
His teammates heard something worse, however. And they’d heard enough, indeed. Thus, there was a fist fight. (These are thirteen-year-olds, after all.) Punched in the face during the brawl, Divyne fought back. A referee suspended him from the game.
Explaining to team parents what had happened, he stirred even more player support: “They were so angry about it. They seemed even angrier than us (Divyne’s dad and sisters).”
Other parents were angered, too. “It brought tears to my eyes,” said a team mom, Tammi Lynch. “To hear from him how pervasive it has been, how he’s just let it roll off his back — I think we had no idea.”
Inspired by their sons, the parents then did a little but great thing. They created a small logo using a hockey stick as a slash mark to cancel out the word “racism.” Printing them out on round stickers, they gave a logo to each boy, who, right away, pasted the logo on his hockey stick.
To drive home the message, parents wore the logo over their hearts. Later, the kids tweaked the wording, making it say “Hockey over Hate,” and posting it on Instagram, the team got requests from other teams asking for the logo.
“At this point,” said Lynch, “standing by and not saying anything is being complicit.”
Dr. Martin Luther King said something similar, “The time is always right to do what is right.”
More importantly, however, what we do doesn’t always have to be massive or mountain-moving. It just needs to reflect God because God is fighting the battle. As my fellow writer Stephanie Bryant said of Joshua in an (in)courage post last spring, “Instead of focusing on each battle, Joshua focused on God because God gave the victory to them before they even fought.”
Therein is the key to standing up with courage and love for unity and kindness: God accomplishes the victory; our job is to step into it.
A few brave kids in Maryland showed us how: when friends are hurt unfairly because of the color of their skin, stand up and say no. Nothing more complicated is required. I needed to see that. When it comes to talking about MLK Day, I can complicate it. Still wounded by old pain, I can dive headfirst into a heavy treatise on racial injustice, trying to make a fresh point with old hurt.
Instead, young hockey players in Maryland simplified the issue. Just do what is right.
As Dr. King said, “We must learn to live together as brothers or perish as fools.” Of course, our blessed Jesus taught that lesson this way: “Love your neighbor as yourself” (Matthew 22:39).
His words sum up this day better than I ever could. Yes, love each other. But if we forget how, watch our kids. They’re already teaching us what love really means.
The key to standing up with courage and love for unity and kindness: God accomplishes the victory. Our job is to step into it. -@PatriciaRaybon: Click To Tweet Leave a Comment
As a mother myself with a 12 year old who may or may not have been bullied, we cannot really figure it out, it is inspiring to hear how the boys team mates stuck up for him and the team families did the same. Racism or any type of hurt should simply NOT be tolerated!!!!!! Than you got sharing. God bless you.
Blessings, dear Jas! Yes, when our children take the lead, showing courage to do what is right, they truly inspire. God’s blessings on your 12 year old and on you as a mom! Sending warmest thanks and love today!
So grateful for this encouragement, Patricia, to just do the next right thing. Here in rural Maine, racism is quiet, maybe underground, but prejudice shows up in the way we treat those who appear to be “less than,” the economic and social barriers forming a barrier that keeps us from really seeing each other.
Grateful for the gift of this day as a reminder to persevere in doing better.
Oh, dear Michele. I love how you say that — just do the NEXT right thing. Amen! May the Lord bless us to follow Him on that path. For such a time as this! Blessings on all you do in Maine — and also on all you share here at (in)courage — to make the world better. You are a beautiful light. I’m so grateful for you! With His love!
Patricia,
This phrase really grabbed me: “God accomplishes the victory; our job is to step into it.” We may not be asked to “drop the mitts” and have a fist fight, but we are called to step into doing what is right. Sometimes we can learn a lot of lessons about justice from our kids. Their natures often have not been as jaded by society. My son played hockey on a team on which he had a black teammate and a Chinese teammate. One member of the other team they were playing was especially vocal about his insults toward my son’s teammates. Not that I encourage retaliation, but when I asked my son why he laid the name-caller out on the boards, he simply responded, “I got sick of his name calling.” The name calling and taunting stopped. Sometimes we just have to say, “Enough!” May we adults have more teachable spirits and a sense of justice….
Blessings,
Bev xx
So well said, dear Bev. Yes, may we have more teachable spirits AND a sense of justice. Your son sounds like a true hero. The apple doesn’t fall far! Kindest thanks for sharing his brave example today. With much love and thanks to you!
Amen to that Bev@walking well with god
Patricia,
While it’s good that the team had their teammate’s back, it’s so sad that they needed to…….Thank-you for sharing and including Proverb 31:8 “Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, ensure justice for those being crushed.” This speaks volumes to me.
Have a blessed day all,
Penny
Blessings, dear Penny. Agree with you about Proverbs 31:8. That’s a true call to each of us! Warmest thanks for calling on us all to answer! With much love!
Thank you Patricia… couldn’t be a better Word for this day! I read Micah 6:8 today. DO JUSTLY, LOVE MERCY, WALK HUMBLY … with your God.. blessings \0/
Sadie, thank you! Amen! The “walk humbly” part of Micah 6:8 can challenge me the most. God bless you for your beautiful reminder today. May God strengthen us to obey! Many blessings on you!
Patricia,
Our world is in a sad state when we still deal with racism of all kinds in the twenty-first century. It seems more pervasive lately, maybe the news is putting it out there often. It is a shame our children have to grow up & deal with this. I grew up in Florida where blacks were bused to white schools & then whites to black schools. I never had a problem with that. My philosophy is to love everyone equally. I don’t value you based on income, skin color, country of origin, etc. Joshua had it right. We don’t need to worry about the battle just God. There is a song we sing at church “The Battle Belongs to the Lord.” That is so true. We just need to do the next right thing. Pray & ask God to help us end this hatred. I believe if people really got to know each other there would be less divisiveness in our world.
Blessings 🙂
Beth, blessings and thank you. Oh, I agree with you. How sad our children still have to deal with a problem like racism. God bless them for standing up to do the right thing. They teach us that we can, too. Following after God! Yes, the battle belongs to Him. Let’s give Him our humble hearts and just love each other. Thank you for encouraging us today!
Loving others must be modeled by parents…..love God, love others sounds simple, but self often gets us off course. Keeping my actions focused on Jesus keeps me in line most days! God’s Word definitely changes me to be the light, be the example!! Thanks for sharing this Patricia!!
You’re so on point, Debbie. We first learn love, or hate, at home. From there, may we as believers follow Christ to keep our selves on the right path — His path of love. Oh, it’s an amazing journey! So thank you for inspiring today!
Thank you. I did read about this, but you shed new light on the story. We need to be the light. Always.
Irene, thank you so much. Yes, always be the light. May God give us the courage to shine bright! Thank you so much for affirming that today! With warmest thanks! Blessings and love, Patricia
Patricia, this is a good word. Stand up for your friends when they are attacked. Do what’s right. It’s just the opposite of what so many are doing today: standing up and shouting pejoratives, putting down their fellow human beings, sometimes violently attacking them. Prejudice is senseless, and I’m convinced it has to be taught (like that song in South Pacific says, “you’ve got to be carefully taught.”) We are not born hating others different from us; we learn it., and it is an insidious and destructive lesson, one that morphs and morphs until it doesn’t seem conquerable. And yet, this essay, those kids, give me hope. What those kids did was to teach others . . . the African-American young man not to let this change who he was, and his Caucasian friends not to permit it. And they, in turn, taught the adults. Dr. King taught us all, and sadly, he lost his life doing it. When we stand up and speak out, like you are doing here, we take one more step to see his dream come to fruition. I saw the video clip of that young man, and it was heartbreaking. Thank you for reminding us that it is never too late to stand up and speak out. That’s the right thing to do. And there are things that are never right to do, and attacking someone because of his skin color is one. It is always wrong.
xo
Lynn
Oh, dear Lynn. I deeply appreciate your loving feedback today. You are so right. In times like these, as division and hate seem to grow wider, we can still find hope. Even from brave children. As parents and adults, may we find the courage in God to follow their best examples. As with this hockey team. Thank you, indeed, for supporting my little story. May it lift and encourage all who read it. Yes, all for Christ! With His amazing love! Blessings on you, wonderful Lynn! Warmly, Patricia
Thank you Patricia for this today. I thank the Lord for those that took a stand for that young boy. His parents did a good job of teaching him to love others.
Blessings today, Julia! Yes, such a wonderful example by the boys and their parents. Amazing and inspiring! Thank you for reading and replying. Sending much love to you today!
“God accomplishes the victory; our job is to step into it.” THIS. Today and every day. My heart breaks for the young boy who was demeaned, yet it swells with hope for his friends, teammates, and community who didn’t just feel bad about the injustice, but used their words and actions to take a stand against it. Yes, let’s be women of courage who do what is right. Always.
Patricia, I’m so grateful for your wise and vulnerable guidance into these challenging conversations. xx
Oh, dear Becky. Yes, the call to be women of courage is so strong now. Always, in fact, as you say so well. Thank you for helping to lead the way! I’m so grateful for you Much love!
You are beautiful, and you are loved, and I am proud to call you my sister.
All together for Jesus!
Wonderful Francee! Thank you so much! Your words are so encouraging, so I’m sending them back your way. “You are beautiful, and you are loved, and I am proud to call you my sister.” With warmest thanks and blessings! Love, Patricia
Thanks for returning the encouragement!
☺ Francee
There is so much I love about your post, Patricia. Your honesty, courage, vulnerability, and willingness to gather us here at the table to talk about a painful reality that is so complex and often overwhelming. I feel like I need to do something big to be part of the solution, but then my own little life feels like more than I can handle at times. I want my African daughter to grow up knowing who she is and how much value she brings – wherever she places her feet. I want her to know she belongs just as much as anyone else, and I pray she will be a girl becoming a woman who creates a sense of unconditional worth and belonging for others, too.
Thank you for reminding me that “God accomplishes the victory; our job is to step into it.” I couldn’t love THIS more. Lord, show us the victory you are calling us to step into in the positions you have for each of us in Your fight for racial reconciliation, healing and restoration hope. The battle is Yours. We are Your servants, show us where to stand, what to pray, when to listen and when to speak up with love and humility, patience and kindness, boldness and courage. In Jesus’s name amen.
Renee, thank you so much for joining the conversation. I’m not sure why racial dialogue feels so hard to people, more so than other topics. Therefore, I appreciate you for taking time to sit and the table and add your story and insight. We all desperately need to hear and talk on these issues, so thank you. I’m encouraged, indeed, by the brave young hockey players, who didn’t complicate the racial discussion — they simply stood up for their teammate. Just one small thing. Each of us can make a choice to do that. One day at a time.
Renee, I also pray today for your beloved daughter. Yes, may she grow up knowing who she is and understanding her true worth, which is priceless. She has a great start with you as her mom. Blessings on your family and on your kindness! With peace and God’s love, Patricia