MLK Jr. Day 2021: Inclusion in Sports

Donald: I’ve been through a lot in my life, including many years at StreetWise. The annual issue of the Martin Luther King, Jr. (MLK), is the one that means the most to me. I’ve looked up to MLK when that’s all I could do; walked hand-in-hand in my mind with MLK through the years; I’ve been MLK in my expressions and teachings throughout my life.

Patrick: Anything you’ve expressed over the years you’d like to share?

Donald: Although there’s many I’d like to share, one thing has always permeated all, and that’s that, due to MLK, I’ve never been afraid to speak my mind. To my peers, to those who could be my sons and nephews, to those—male and female— who may be ignorant to some of the ways of this world. But I’ve also been brave enough to hold my tongue in situations that weren’t worthy of me losing my self; those situations that require a more “overall” healing.

Russ: Don, let me get in here for a second. First, let me say “Happy Birthday, Dr. King. Thank you for your movement.” I remember when Blacks couldn’t play sports with whites, and Dr. King stepped to the forefront and fought for this right. One specific moment I remember is when the Negro League played the white MLB team, the Negro League team kicked their butts. So what happened is, it morphed into “If you can’t beat the Negro League, then let them join us.”

Patrick: Who were some of the Negro League players who helped kick in the doors?

Russ: To name just a few, Henry “Hank” Aaron, Willie Mays, and Bob Gibson. They, and everyone else involved in the movement led by MLK, helped change the game of baseball.

John: But when I hear certain media outlets and sports leagues discuss filling GM and other ownership positions with more Blacks—in some cases, only Blacks—to me, isn’t that defeating the purpose of the spirit of MLK?

Patrick: My perspective on this is that MLK, as well as those fulfilling his wishes, wanted fairness. To have fairness, there must be a similar starting line and, unfortunately, Blacks (and other minorities) had not—and still, to this day, have not—even seen that line. When a group has been held back for so many years, only to see those keeping them down power forward into positions that enable them to keep the status quo, it is only right, in my opinion, to attempt to level the playing field. So, I believe, MLK wanted there to be opportunity for all to excel. This not only elevates society as an entity, but also elevates individuals to come together for the same mission; something I like to refer to as an “evening.”

John: When any business opens to hire only Blacks, this is as bad as a business that opens to hire only whites. Donald: True. And the ideal down the line is that neither will be the case. However, we have to progress to that point, and there’s a ways to get there. I believe, in my lifetime, we won’t get to this ideal, but we must continue the charge. We must all—everyone who wants change for the better— fight to make this a reality.

Patrick: So, any last words?

John: A color-blind society is not achieved by people judged by the color of their skin—but by their character and merit.

Donald: We’ve never had a great America, but we have the resources to do so.

Russ: Agreed.

Any comments or suggestions? Email pedwards@streetwise.org