Racial Injustice and the Professional Athlete

Patrick: Welcome to Sports- Wise, folks. Today, we discuss racial injustice and its connection to sports: specifically, to the professional athlete. These three gentleman on this page with me are chomping at the bit to get going…so, let’s do just that—Don?

Don: The Kenosha killing by a police officer of Jacob Blake hurts my heart. We’re in tough times, people…but it’s a time that can help us in the future. I think to get us to where we need to be, these are, in fact, necessary times. Understanding is where it’s at. Look, what I saw in the video was a slave running from his owner. I heard: “I’m running away because I want to be free!”

Russ: I get that, Don. I definitely felt that was the case.

Don: The sports world is speaking out about and protesting racial injustice because 200 years of angst is rising, saying “Silent no more.”

Patrick: Yelling it.

Don: No, they’re not. Currently, we see calm. At the base of the understanding is for white men to realize—especially white male officers—that those they are killing out here are a version of “King of the castle” as he is. Black, white, Asian, etc., a man is a man. Until this idea is embraced and understood, we’re going to continue to watch these incidents take place.

John: With the almost-always video recording, coupled with social media, we’re seeing it all. And this is something I think hurts the sports world’s characters: Because we see it all, I’ve come to believe that it’s hypocritical of many of the athletes to support so strongly the community that many of those killed come from. My reason for believing this is that I don’t see many athletes visiting the communities to see what’s going on. There’s a lot going on that’ll ease the ills going on in the neighborhoods. Education is key. There is a definite lack of education; also, the nuclear family is no more.

Russ: John, let me get in here. For me, the deafening silence of the brief, though powerful, message generated by the sports world spoke and speaks volumes about how big this all is. The kneeling, the slogans—all these things made its point, but pulling sports off the board was loud. No basketballs pounding the hardwood, games cancelled, no baseballs cracking off bats, more games cancelled, no soccer balls ricocheting down the field, even more games cancelled—this is what the silence told.

Don: Wake up, America!

John: I believe folks need to understand that we live in the greatest country in the world. We are not filled with bad people as we’re being told.

Russ: No more Jacob Blakes, no more George Floyds, no more Breanna Taylors…and the list goes on. No more pain! The significance of the moment is cemented in history.

Don: Coronavirus is the least of our worries. Racial injustice is causing much more tension and harm than even this deadly situation in which we find ourselves.

John: Our country—and it is our country—has given us so much. Opportunities abound for everyone. Everyone.

Patrick: Fellas, as much as I— and I’m sure you all, too— want to listen to and learn from each of you, let’s bring it home. Final thoughts—Russ?

Russ: I support all athletes. I support all black men and women. Let’s make America kind again.

John: The reason people are against this stand is because they want to get away from this stuff, especially with their athletes. Stay on the court.

Don: America, wake up!