And then there was this… allow us to share as factually as possible…
A little less than 2 weeks ago, at the Virginia State High School League indoor track and field state championships, in the girls’ 4 x 200m relay final, Brookfield High junior Kaelen Tucker was rounding a corner during the second leg. The competition was close.
She is originally behind I.C. Norcom High School senior Alaila Everett. When Tucker passes Everett, the stereotypical, by-your-side rhythmic swinging motion of the baton changes, wherein Everett instead pulls the baton behind her back, lifts it, and proceeds to strike Tucker on the head in the lane next to her. (See entire video HERE.) Tucker would fall to the ground, soon to be diagnosed with a concussion and possible skull fracture. Everett’s team was quickly disqualified.
As the video went viral last week, Alaila Everett was charged with one count of assault and battery, in the City of Lynchburg’s Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court.
There are multiple angles with which to approach the incident; let us begin with the range of reaction…
… shock, dismay, speechlessness. Granted, some have not been speechless, using their words to demean, saying some awful, terrible things.
Note, also, Everett insists it was an accident.
She said that their proximity prompted her to lose her balance, turn her body, pump her arms, and inadvertently hit Tucker. Interviewing with multiple news sources, Everett expounds upon why it was an unfortunate accident:
”My community knows my character… they know I’m not like that… I can admit from the video it does look purposeful, but I know my intentions, and I would never hit somebody on purpose because of jealousy… I would never harm anybody. I’m not a fighter. I’m not even confrontational. I wouldn’t even do that on purpose.”
Some, therefore, have used to their words to defend…
Said Everett’s mother, “My baby didn’t do it. I know who I raised…”
Said the local NAACP President, “She is not an attacker. Alaila is an honor student at Norcom High School. We are not going to sit back and allow the criminal justice system to define her.”
After being served with the assault charge, a public rally was held late last week to reiterate Everett’s innocence.
What a terrible situation.
Allow us, no less, to share two more angles that we believe to be significant.
First, sometimes it seems we craft this insulated idea that either we or another is incapable of doing something really wrong or bad… “There is no way they could do that… that’s not possible… I know them..”
Friends, with sincere, all due respect, that makes no sense to me. We may have the most wonderful credentials, full of honors and accolades, but given the wrong circumstances at the right time in an unhealthy, emotional headspace — something we are indeed each capable of — bad things could happen. Are they likely? No. Could they happen? Yes. Are we each capable of doing the shocking and unspeakable? Absolutely.
Secondly, the question here is intent. None of us know what was inside the head of Alaila Everett at that moment; none of us know what her emotional headspace was like. Not her parents, not her opponent, not the head of the local NAACP. I understand the decision to believe her. After watching the video multiple times, I also understand the decision not to. The reality is, whatever we each decide, we cannot know with certainty.
A trusted friend encouraged me years ago to resist the urge to make the uncertain certain. That’s not always easy. It’s also not very convenient. Still it’s oft the wisest thing to do.
Respectfully…
AR