A group of talented fourth-graders recently celebrated a significant achievement in their robotics competition, only to be met with shocking racism. The five members of the Bright Future Elementary School’s robotics team, known as the Bright Future Bots, were targeted by a crowd of onlookers after winning a competition in Plainfield, Indiana. Instead of receiving accolades, they were confronted with hateful remarks, including shouts of “Go back to Mexico!” from other students present.
The Bright Future Bots, who are made up of students from a lower-income neighborhood, had just qualified for the Vex IQ State Championship. During their exit from the event, which featured 35 teams from local schools, they were subjected to slurs that echoed comments they had overheard from adults earlier in the day.
Maria Gonzalez, mother of team member Leo Gonzalez, recounted how some parents were disparaging the team, saying things like, “They are champions of the city only because they are Mexican. They are ruining our country.” This incident prompted swift condemnation from school officials. Jenna Lee, communications director for the Plainfield Community School Corporation, stated, “We absolutely do not tolerate such behavior. Our community values inclusivity and respect, and that is not something we will accept.”
Lisa Martin, the team coach and a second-grade teacher, expressed her thoughts on the matter, noting that the robotics field often lacks diversity. She remarked, “The robotics world has primarily been a white space, so they are not accustomed to seeing a team like ours excel.”
Despite the negativity, the Bright Future Bots continued to thrive. Just three weeks after the incident, they earned an award for best robot design at the state championships, qualifying them for the Vex IQ World Championship in Louisville, where they will compete against teams from around the globe. “They see us and think we won’t be competition, but we’ve been in first place all day,” Martin noted proudly.
A GoFundMe campaign for the team surpassed its funding goal, with the extra funds earmarked for next year’s program. The students, who recently began their journey in robotics thanks to a school grant, are determined not to let prejudice hinder their progress. As one team member stated, “We know they were mean and jealous, but we’re going to use it to make us stronger.”
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In summary, the Bright Future Bots demonstrate resilience in the face of adversity. Their story is a testament to the power of determination and talent overcoming prejudice, and they are well on their way to achieving their dreams.