Princeton Men’s Basketball Drives Transformation in the Fifth Annual “This Game is No Secret”: Fostering Education, Empowerment, and Engagement"
2/24/2025
The Fifth Annual “This Game is No Secret” initiative held deep significance for Princeton men’s basketball this year. College basketball teams across the country wear T-shirts with "This Game is No Secret" to honor the legacy of Coach McLendon, who led the 1944 North Carolina Central Men’s Basketball team in their historic game against Duke University. This game marked a pivotal moment in the racial integration of college basketball, and its story remains a powerful reminder of both the progress achieved and the work still needed.
Princeton men’s basketball proudly participated in this campaign, commemorating the legacy of that game and its transformative influence on the sport. They also used it as a platform for fostering meaningful dialogue and driving change. The Equality, Reconciliation, Action-Coaches Inclusion Social Movement (ERACISM) focuses on four pillars for change: conversation, education, community, and reconciliation. These core values guided Princeton's efforts this year, ensuring the initiative was not merely a symbolic gesture but a call to action for ongoing dialogue and collective progress toward racial equality and inclusion.
Princeton Athletics Associate Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Miles Smith Jr., collaborated with Princeton men’s basketball to bring these core values to life. The mission was to explore how a meaningful impact could be created by wearing the Eracism T-shirt during the game.
Miles believed that the most impactful starting point would be to have a conversation with the men's basketball team. This wasn’t just about discussing the significance of the Eracism t-shirt but also about diving deeper into the history and implications of inclusivity in sports. Miles decided to open the dialogue with a story that many of the players were already familiar with: the “secret game” between Duke and North Carolina Central in 1944.
While a few members of the Princeton men’s basketball team had heard of this game, they didn’t necessarily know its full significance. Miles sat down with the coaches and student-athletes, explaining the game's backdrop and how it became a turning point in the history of racial integration in college basketball. After the conversation, it became clear that the next step in our work was to spread this story further, especially to younger students who could benefit from its lessons.
As part of the initiative, Miles emphasized bringing the lessons of the secret game to life in a way that would directly impact the next generation. This is where Christina Seix Academy, located in Ewing, New Jersey, came in. Christina Seix Academy is a school whose mission is focused on empowering extraordinary young people to grow "From Potential to Achievement” by addressing the systemic educational and other barriers that have historically held back children from marginalized communities. Christina Seix Academy prepares students to succeed in highly selective independent schools, which in turn provides them with rigorous academic development and access to a vast array of experiences, resources, and networks. These educational opportunities enable graduates to succeed in their own right, effect positive change, and become leaders in and beyond their communities
Princeton men’s basketball traveled to Christina Seix to engage with students. The team hosted a read-aloud session, reading Game Changers by John Coy, which chronicles the secret game between Duke and North Carolina Central. This event sparked a rich discussion between Princeton men’s basketball student-athletes and young students, offering both groups the chance to learn from each other and explore the power of sports in challenging societal norms.
One of the most powerful aspects of this initiative was how it facilitated a full-circle movement, where Princeton men’s basketball student-athletes were not only able to teach younger students, but they also learned a great deal from them. Interacting with the young people at Christina Seix Academy allowed the student-athletes to gain a deeper understanding of their community and the diverse perspectives that exist within it.
By engaging with the next generation, Princeton men’s basketball student-athletes not only contributed to their development but also took away valuable lessons in humility, empathy, and social inclusivity. This two-way learning process was a reminder that creating meaningful transformation requires both sharing knowledge and being open to receiving it.
The t-shirt, which once might have been seen as just an accessory for a game, now represents a deeper understanding of the importance of equity, inclusion, and reconciliation and its impact on sports. It has become a tangible reminder of our role in creating a more inclusive world.
“This Game is No Secret” campaign was more than just a series of events or a slogan. It became a game changer, helping to integrate inclusion, education, and perspective into college basketball. Princeton Men’s Basketball has illustrated that the game of basketball can be a powerful vehicle for social change, bringing people together, sparking important conversations, and pushing for real transformation. This year, the team not only wore the Eracism t-shirt they made it matter.
To learn about this event and the Secret Game, please visit www.eracism4ever.com.
