Brandon Lee Spight was 17 years of age and a senior at the University of Detroit Jesuit High School & Academy. He was an accomplished student, athlete, artist, and community volunteer. As a member of the school varsity golf team, Brandon was known for his golf swing and his competitiveness. He was a standout academically and athletically, had a wide circle of friends, and had a magnetic personality. Brandon shared his talents by teaching the sport to younger kids through the Detroit Police Athletic League and tutoring children for his senior service at Christ the King Catholic School. Brandon was destined to become a golfer. As a baby and toddler, his dad, Virgil Spight often took him to the driving range as he practiced his golf swings. Brandon apparently watched attentively, because although right-handed he actually golfed left-handed, just like his dad, who is right-handed but a left-handed golfer.
Brandon Lee Spight was 17 years of age and a senior at the University of Detroit Jesuit High School & Academy. He was an accomplished student, athlete, artist, and community volunteer. As a member of the school varsity golf team, Brandon was known for his golf swing and his competitiveness. He was a standout academically and athletically, had a wide circle of friends, and had a magnetic personality. Brandon shared his talents by teaching the sport to younger kids through the Detroit Police Athletic League and tutoring children for his senior service at Christ the King Catholic School. Brandon was destined to become a golfer. As a baby and toddler, his dad, Virgil Spight often took him to the driving range as he practiced his golf swings. Brandon apparently watched attentively, because although right-handed he actually golfed left-handed, just like his dad, who is right-handed but a left-handed golfer.
“When I made my decision to become proficient in the game of golf I didn’t realize it would require me to live as a chameleon. I am an African American who grew up experiencing two extremes my entire life", says Brandon. "I am not fickle, however I am the type of person who can adapt to situations that would cause discomfort to most," he says about his upbringing.
"I was blind to unjust treatment I received because I chose to learn golf instead of basketball or football," he says. "African Americans in my neighborhood and even some family members treated me differently because of the school I attended," he writes about growing up in his city.
"Those closest to me seemed not to respect me because I did not play the traditional sports normally played by African Americans. Subsequently, as a way to be accepted and make friends in the neighborhood, I started playing basketball. I had to use the slang of the neighborhood kids when I was home in order to be accepted."
The older I became, the more I realized that what I loved was golf. I gained respect by posting good scores and learned how to deal with racist attitudes about the game.
“When I made my decision to become proficient in the game of golf I didn’t realize it would require me to live as a chameleon. I am an African American who grew up experiencing two extremes my entire life", says Brandon. "I am not fickle, however I am the type of person who can adapt to situations that would cause discomfort to most," he says about his upbringing.
"I was blind to unjust treatment I received because I chose to learn golf instead of basketball or football," he says. "African Americans in my neighborhood and even some family members treated me differently because of the school I attended," he writes about growing up in his city.
"Those closest to me seemed not to respect me because I did not play the traditional sports normally played by African Americans. Subsequently, as a way to be accepted and make friends in the neighborhood, I started playing basketball. I had to use the slang of the neighborhood kids when I was home in order to be accepted."
The older I became, the more I realized that what I loved was golf. I gained respect by posting good scores and learned how to deal with racist attitudes about the game.
“I may have gone through some struggles but they ended up making me a stronger and a well-rounded person,” says Brandon. “The only thing I can hope for is that maybe I changed a person’s view on stereotyping African Americans in sports”.
“I may have gone through some struggles but they ended up making me a stronger and a well-rounded person,” says Brandon. “The only thing I can hope for is that maybe I changed a person’s view on stereotyping African Americans in sports”.
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