As a first-year, out-of-state student who isn’t the most well-versed in Alabama football culture, I had no idea what A-Day was before this month. Once I asked around, I received very split opinions on the event, revealing the power of fear-mongering and the harm of inappropriate and ignorant comments.
A-Day is The University of Alabama’s annual spring scrimmage in which Bryant-Denny Stadium is open to the public for viewing. When I asked those around me what A-Day was all about, some simply told me that it was a free-to-view scrimmage game that tended to be pretty busy; others gave me a very different and more cautionary description of the spring event.
Among these descriptions were people telling me to stay inside because the day in its entirety was dangerous. I, however, was confused about how a free football scrimmage game was particularly hazardous.
Overcrowding is always a concern when it comes to any public event of this magnitude. The Strip in particular has been shut down on three separate occasions in the past four years on A-Day, due to false claims of gunshots and various rumors over the years. Nevertheless, all seemed to come together once a Facebook post created by Tuscaloosa City Councilman Kip Tyner painted a different picture.
In his now deleted post, Tyner placed the blame on visitors from Lipscomb, Bessemer, Ensley and Hale County for “causing crap!” While this may not seem like an especially problematic comment, it becomes a lot more concerning when you realize that all four of these counties have a predominantly Black population.
It seems like false claims from previous years have escalated significantly into fear-mongering stories that only promote harmful and ignorant narratives that further divide our school.
While these attendees being accused of starting a disruption are not University of Alabama students, the fact that Tyner is using this concept of people from “out-of-town” as a racially charged euphemism is unacceptable. A-Day is a huge event for not only this institution but this city, and Tyner’s comments are wildly inappropriate.
In the midst of this, the University itself has yet to make a formal statement condemning this, racist behavior. The University of Alabama has the same obligations as any other institution to ensure that not only its students feel welcome here, but visitors as well. One can argue that the University made no such comment and is not to blame. While they are not to blame for Tyner’s prejudiced remarks, they must be criticized for their lack of action.
Tyner has since come out in a separate post claiming that he is not a racist, but spreading commentary warranting such an accusation is a problem in itself. There is no apology that can erase the harm caused by this dialogue or the people it has hurt.
The students of this institution also have an obligation to denounce the rumors, false claims and wildly dramatized stories they share that contribute to this harm. Tuscaloosa, and our school, is a place where everyone should feel welcome. A-Day is a special event in which we are able to showcase not only our football team, but also our community. So in the future, let us make this day one worth celebrating.
