Racist Georgia Southern Coach Mark Taylor faces backlash over racist video (watch)

An assistant coach at Georgia Southern University, Mark Taylor, is under fire for making a racist comment in a video that has gone viral on social media. The incident occurred during a team meeting on June 30, 2020, and involved Taylor telling his players that if any of them had encountered the police, they should tell the officers that they were driving to a family member’s house in a white neighborhood rather than revealing that they were going back home in a black neighborhood.

The comments were caught on camera by one of the players, who shared the video with a reporter from The George-Anne, the student newspaper of Georgia Southern. The video quickly spread across the internet, prompting outrage and condemnation from many people, including current and former players, alumni, and community leaders.

The university issued a statement denouncing Taylor’s behavior and announcing that he had been suspended from all football-related activities pending further investigation. The statement reads in part, “Georgia Southern does not tolerate the language or actions of any employee who fails to uphold its values, especially when it comes to racism or discrimination of any kind. We apologize to our players, our fans, and our community for any harm caused by this incident, and we are committed to taking swift and decisive action to address it.”

Taylor also issued a statement apologizing for his remarks and claiming that he had misspoken. He said, “I regret the impact my statement had on those who heard it, and I sincerely apologize for any offense caused. It was not my intent to perpetuate any racial stereotypes or to suggest that anyone should lie to the police.”

However, many people were not satisfied with Taylor’s apology and called for his immediate termination from his position. They argued that his comments revealed deeply ingrained racial biases and a lack of sensitivity to the experiences of black people and other minorities who face disproportionate levels of policing, surveillance, and discrimination.

The incident is the latest in a series of similar incidents involving coaches, staff, and players at major sports institutions who have been caught making racist, sexist, or homophobic remarks. Such incidents highlight the ongoing need for education, awareness, and accountability in creating more equitable and inclusive athletic environments at all levels of competition.