Grayling White Boys

Grayling Middle School 7th & 8th Grade White Boys Basketball will play Kalkaska in Kalkaska

-Crawford County Avalanche, 12/12/2009

The Grayling middle school boys basketball team has inadvertently initiated serious discussions about race in the city of Grayling, demographically over 96% white. For days now, the local newspaper has been receiving letters to the editor in protest of the teams name, the Grayling White Boys. Many community members defend of the name, which they consider a classification system based on the schools colors.

In the '90's, the Middle School basketball teams were dubbed "Team A" and "Team B." According to John Smock, these names did not cause any controversy. The names were later changed to "White Boys" and "Green Boys" by the school principal, who wanted the team names to reflect the school colors. "Most people feel that was a great idea, including myself," says Smock, supporter of the name change. Frustrated with the accusations of racism, the former coach writes, "Is that all people have to do is find something wrong with every little thing?"

Despite the controversy, the game will go on: the Grayling White boys play Kalkaska next Monday at 5pm, in Kalkaska.