Consider a less divisive name for the King Cotton Holiday Classic

The King Cotton Holiday Classic is a national-level high school basketball tournament held in Pine Bluff, Arkansas. The tournament was founded by Travis Creed, a bank executive from Pine Bluff, in 1982. Once considered to be the most prestigious high school tournament in the nation, the event continues to attract top high school teams from all over the country.

One of the teams that will be participating in the tournament this year will be Sidwell Friends School, from Washington, DC. As a parent of a player on the team, and the founder of the nation's leading voice for anti-racism education, A Long Talk About The Uncomfortable Truth, I am petitioning for the tournament directors to do the following:

1. Educate themselves on the meaning and messaging behind the history of the King Cotton brand. https://youtu.be/tC1LhuEVHaA

2. Consider if the name of your event could be considered a "divisive concept" for any of the teams, players, and families you are hosting.

3. Decide if the history of "King Cotton" is the type of narrative that you believe best represents the event that you would hope others would continue to support.

If there is anything we as an organization can do to assist in your process of education and consideration, please don't hesitate to connect with us via [email protected].