Spot the Difference

The National Football League in recent years has been scrutinized for the lack of African American coaches on the sidelines. Although there are nearly seventy percent of black players in the NFL there were only three black head coaches in 2022. Topics revolving around race, health on the field and other delicate issues have been voided by the NFL. One of these topics is a recent publishing of a photo from 1957 that is very significant to the Civil Rights movement. Little Rock Central High School in the late 1950s was forced to desegregate after it was deemed unconstitutional by the Supreme Court. As seen in the photo a group of white teenagers were restricting black students from entering the high school. Announced by the Washington Post, the photo featured a then fourteen-year-old Jerry Jones, future owner of the Dallas Cowboys.

During the 1950s tensions were rising over Jim Crow laws and regulations like desegregating high schools were becoming a bit more common. For example, the landmark of Brown v. The Board of Education case prohibited segregation in schooling. With protests and regulations becoming more common near white institutions, pres- sure and anger began to spread in those communities. Little Rock Central High School integrated in September of 1957. In the photo, Jerry Jones (seen in the near back of the photo) is resisting desegregation. Today, Jones is a successful American businessman that has a net worth of 13.6 billion according to Forbes and has been general manager, president, and the now owner of the Dallas Cowboys. Since his management of the Dallas Cowboys the team has never had a black head coach. When asked about the photo, Jones explains “I don’t know that I or anybody anticipated or had a background of knowing…what was involved. It was more of a curious thing”. In numerous articles, Jones tries to reassure explaining that although he lived in a racially sensitive area of Arkansas, he was around black communities when young.

Overall, the significance of this photo says much about not only Jerry Jones but the NFL as a whole. An owner of the Dallas Cowboys (known to be “America’s team”) was seen sixty-six years ago opposing desegregation. Most people don’t realize or haven’t even heard the news about Jerry Jones in this disturbing picture. Despite its terrible nature, it was fitting for the time. As proven by the photo, it doesn’t make sense for Jones to say he didn’t have any background of knowing about the significance of desegregation in schools. Very few news stories or articles have been published about this, which leads us to believe the NFL could be trying to sweep it under the rug. In recent years, the NFL has been criticized for their lack of diversity. Also, the league has not made any comments regarding Jones in the photo. Perhaps because of the absence of the NFL in discussing social issues and wanting to be a positive influence, it is not surprising to see Jerry Jones as an owner and in this photo. This brings assumptions of what were Jones’ true motives in the photo. People wonder if Jones’s continued internal support of discrimination has influenced his possession of the Dallas Cowboys.

With no true scrutiny towards Jerry Jones for this 1957 photo, it begs the question of why haven’t others received this same judgment. For example, last November, NBA player Kyrie Irving faced backlash for his perceived antisemitic action. Recently Irving has been a main advocate for black players in the NBA. Irving retweeted a movie on Twitter that is perceived to be antisemitic. The retweet was a film with material that had a negative impact on the Jewish community. The Brooklyn Nets (Irving’s team) suspended him for multiple games and the media absolutely crucified him for his retweet. There were many harsh headlines, articles, and news stories about this one situation. This event was not swept under the rug. In fact, it was quite the opposite as it brought a great deal of attention to not only Irving but also his family. The NBA apologized for Irving’s action and made him apologize to the media within weeks of the incident. Nike also terminated Irving’s contract causing him to lose his shoe contract and Nike athlete appearance.

The incident with Kyrie Irving showed that in this society people are quick to analyze, judge, and sometimes dehumanize others after they’ve made a mistake. Jerry Jones was trying to disallow and block young black students from entering school because they were black. Kyrie Irving retweeted a movie that was considered anti-semitic. There are many differences between both, but one was blasted on mainstream media and the other was kept under wraps. Perhaps it was because Jones is a white billionaire that owns a NFL team and has become likable from his success.

Praising and glorifying those with power and choosing to diminish others that don’t have the same ability is what America has been teaching forever. The idea to always strive to be something you aren’t capable of being whether it’s social class, race or gender. Historical circumstances have led to this unfair system that has many complications. The clear discrimination for an African-American Kyrie Irving, is a clear example of the biased prejudice. Jerry Jones received no true criticism for his actions during a period of racial tension. The clear discrepancy between the treatment of these two men and the discourse behind it raises a conversation concerning both our past and our future.