In a disturbing social media incident, Leslie Morriss, an operations manager at Texas StrideCare, has been accused of making racist remarks about South Oak Cliff (SOC) High School football players.
Morriss’s comments have drawn widespread condemnation for perpetuating harmful stereotypes.
The controversy arose from a post about a high school football game where SOC defeated Melissa High School 35-17.
The original post read: “End of the road for Melissa and #66. South Oak Cliff won 35 – 17. Melissa had a good run and nothing to be ashamed of.”
Morriss replied, “Not the end of the road for the #66, he’ll go on to play college football while most of those SOC thugs will probably end up in jail.”
The word “thugs” carries racial undertones, especially in contexts involving Black athletes. SOC High School, in Dallas, has a predominantly Black student body, and such language reinforces negative narratives about young Black men.
The post has since been deleted amid the backlash. Community reactions have been swift and critical.
Community Stands Strong
Parents and residents have called the remarks ignorant and racist. One parent said, “Calling our kids thugs is ignorant, it’s racism.”
Others targeted Morriss personally: Olivia Ibezim commented, “I see where #66 gets it from, his mama.”
Patrick Davis added, “Meanwhile, her son is dating a beautiful black young lady. I wonder if she says the same thing about her when she’s not around.”
Kayshellyn Hepburn warned, “It’d be awful if StrideCare learned that this is what their employee in Melissa, Tx was doing.”
The backlash has escalated to local officials. John Handy praised the parent, Maxie Johnson, who spoke against the issue, saying,
“Thank you Councilman, this issue need’s to be addressed every time it raises it’s ugly head, I truly hope she gets a chance to see your post because it’s not ok to ‘freely’ say those things, once again thank you and be encouraged, you’re doing a great job.”
Candace Wicks urged action: “Address that Melissa ISD School Board and their City Council!” Further comments highlighted the absurdity of adults criticizing kids.
Jenna Michelle exclaimed, “These are grown people talking about kids! The comments I’ve seen about Desoto, Duncanville and SOC are beyond ridiculous! Those comments won’t steal their talent an it won’t steal their joy. That’s what makes Karens like her so mad. She can cry harder!”
Keith Hamilton noted, “Her comment is out of line but u know what, nvm.”
One individual wrote, “Our players are role models, not thugs. Comments like this undermine the hard work they put in on and off the field.”
Ashley McCoy added, “I just sent him a message and this SS needs to be sent to Melissa ISD so they can see the leaders that they have in place.”
The school district supports the team and is exploring anti-racism education. StrideCare has yet to comment publicly, but an internal review is reportedly in progress.
This incident highlights racism in Texas sports culture, where high school rivalries can fuel prejudiced attacks.
Experts warn that such language discourages youth participation and perpetuates biases. The community demands accountability, questioning if Morriss’s actions align with StrideCare’s values of care and respect.
As investigations proceed, the case serves as a stark reminder that words targeting vulnerable groups have real consequences.
