A Tuskegee University Student Athlete Has Died at Just 20 Years Old

Following the news that Machari Washington Parker has died at just 20 years old, the entire community of Tuskegee University is in mourning. Machari was a mechanical engineering student and a rising junior was also a part of the university's baseball team.

He was also a New Student Orientation leader, and a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. As news of his death has begun to spread on social media, many want to better understand what the circumstances surrounding his death were. Here's what we know.

We don't know many details about Machari's death, and the statements that have been issued publicly don't offer any hints as to what happened to him.

"We are heart-broken to learn of Macahri's passing," said Dr. Mark A. Brown, Tuskegee University President and CEO. "We will come together to uplift his family and each other during this time. I encourage everyone to seek counseling as needed and lean on each other for support."

Reginald Ruffin, Tuskegee University Director of Athletics, also offered a statement mourning Machari's death: "Macahri embodied what it means to be a Golden Tiger, hard-working, committed, and always willing to lead by example. His impact extended beyond the diamond into every space he entered on campus. Our entire athletics family mourns this tremendous loss, and our thoughts and prayers are with his family and loved ones."

Michael Washington Parker's cause of death has not been publicly disclosed, and the official statements about his death have seemed to intentionally avoid disclosing that information. While there's plenty you could speculate about, we don't know for sure, and given that Machari was just 20 years old and was not in any way a public figure, it's fair to argue that the public is not entitled to learn more about his death.

Tuskegee did make it clear that it would offer support to all those who might be grieving following the news of his death. Those include a virtual counseling platform called TimelyCare, in-person counseling, and pastoral care for those who seek spiritual advice.

"Tuskegee University Athletics extends its deepest condolences to the Washington-Parker family, his teammates, friends, and all who knew him. Details regarding memorial arrangements will be shared when available," the school said.

The death of a student at just 20 is always a tragedy, and especially so when he has become such a leader within his campus community. Those who knew Machari well are undoubtedly in mourning, as are the many people on campus who knew him in ways that were less direct.

As they mourn his loss, we should honor the privacy of Machari and his family. If they choose to share more information about how he died, that will be their decision to make. Until that time, we'll have to accept that we don't know every detail of what happened to him and why.