When Briana “Hoops” Green was growing up in Lexington, Kentucky, she was bullied by peers, who criticized the way she dressed and for hanging around the guys to play basketball.
Had Green let those bullies bring her down, she might never have become a Harlem Globetrotter, who now helps to tackle bullying in schools by sharing the “ABCs of Bullying Prevention.”
While maintaining a twirling basketball balanced on her finger, Green addressed 50 sixth-grade students in the afterschool Y Club Wednesday, at the Oak Manor Sixth Grade Center gym. She taught students that the “A” stands for action, “B” for bravery and “C” for compassion.
Nicole Weber, out-of-school director for the Y Club, started the Harlem Globetrotter visit years ago with much persistence. Now, the Harlem Globetrotters’ visit is a tradition at Oak Manor.
Weber liked the message the Harlem Globetrotters had to share, but she also liked how engaging they made the lesson.
“It empowers them to speak up for themselves and for others,” Weber said.
There were no Power Point presentations, handouts or note taking. Rather Green invited students to practice some basketball tricks and to share how they could apply their “ABCs” to conquering bullying.
Y-Club member Matt Row shared how he almost did not join the after school program because he was being bullied by a club member. But Row is glad he joined.
Since becoming part of the club, he has learned to swim and cook, and has improved his grades in math due to the homework help available through the program, he said.
On Wednesday, Row was among those selected to talk about how to use compassion when dealing with a bully.
Row said that every bully has a backstory, and they may act the way they do because they feel badly about themselves.
While compassion is a key aspect, Green also asked students to share other ways in which they could handle a bullying situation using their “ABCs.”
Student Tony Jernigan said to use the letter “A” for action, as he would tell a teacher or adult if he saw someone being a bully.
As students face pressure from peers and become adults, Weber said they might witness or face challenges with bullies. It is why she thought that message would resonate particularly well with sixth graders.
“They are in that transition phase where they are wanting to be kids still, but they have middle school on their mind, where they are trying to grow up,” Weber said. “It is definitely a difficult age.”
The “ABCs of Bullying Prevention” is a Harlem Globetrotter community outreach program, organized collaboration with National Campaign to Stop Violence. Green said the Harlem Globetrotters decided to tackle the issue after a survey revealed that one of the main issues students face in schools is bullying.
Niles Superintendent Dan Applegate also dropped by Wednesday. While he could not stay for the Globetrotters’ arrival, he did shoot hoops with some of the students.
Applegate emphasized the importance of programs like the Y-Club.
“It is a wonderful partnership that we have with the YMCA,” Applegate said. “We are very fortunate to have our local YMCA provide afterschool clubs and exciting opportunities like today for the families of the community.”
Each year, students in the club look forward to getting to meet a Harlem Globetrotter. This year, many dressed in Harlem Globetrotter attire.
While conquering bullying remained the focal point, students could not wait to challenge Green to a game of one-on-one, a challenge graciously accepted by Green.
As a student who grew up dealing with bullies, Green said she was happy to advocate for teaching anti-bullying tactics.
“It needs to be addressed, because it is one of the biggest issues in school,” Green said. “Kids need to know that [by] going to school, you are just there to have fun and get an education. They should not be dealing with bullying.”