Athletes are more than just players on a field, teammates on a court, or allies in a match. Athletes use their voices and resources to provide a powerful dialogue through their respective sports. Professional athletes from all around the globe have either been faced with or witnessed problematic instances of social inequality.
Social justice and sports have gone hand-in-hand for many years now and have formed a mirroring relationship. Athletes have used their platforms and continue to use them to raise awareness about issues of social justice, whether it be because of a personal experience or just simply to speak up on recurring controversial issues in our nation.
Although athletes continue to use their voices to express their opinions on pressing topics, some have received astonishing levels of backlash. Understandably, people may not want to hear “political statements” during sporting events on their Sunday nights or regular weekdays.
The reality of the situation is that it is pivotal for these athletes to take a stance on prominent issues on or off the field as so many are affected by them in their communities.
An athlete who was one of the first to publicly speak on modern-day social inequalities was former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick in 2016. He was one of the many voices who helped to initiate a much-needed conversation on racial inequality and police brutality in the United States.
Kaepernick ignited a movement through his decision to kneel during the national anthem to shed light on racial injustice towards black and brown Americans. “I am not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses Black people and people of color,” said Kaepernick at the time.
Even though Kaepernick continuously received enormous backlash for his form of protest, he knew what he was getting himself into by taking the risk of speaking out. He was not intimidated by any consequences that he faced and was determined to keep on fighting for communities that continued to be marginalized and oppressed.
After all the controversy, Kaepernick’s refusal to stand for the United States flag that he believed didn’t represent what it was intended to; equality and freedom for all, made his career in the NFL take a downturn. He has since been blacklisted from the NFL, with no teams willing to sign him for fear of negative public opinion.
In light of the drama, Kaepernick has started charitable foundations and become a full-time activist to raise awareness for social justice, while still trying to regain his job in the NFL.
After the horrific death of the late Breonna Taylor in March, as well as George Floyd in May at the hands of police brutality, social justice movements have acquired greater steam all across the nation.
During such an unprecedented time in the middle of a pandemic, people across the globe have joined together to demand justice for African Americans and an end to police brutality. Calls for police reform and justice for the countless black lives killed at the hands of cops have been tirelessly pleaded for.
Athletes have taken it upon themselves to shed much-needed light on these matters and call for justice as well. Most sports organizations have backed up their athletes and have added their voices once again to the conversation.
The NBA, WNBA, MLB, NFL, NTL, men and women soccer leagues, and even college athletics teams have all shown impactful moments of solidarity towards the movement.
Following the resumption of the NBA and WNBA seasons after their pandemic suspensions, the players and organizations agreed to commit their platform to address social justice issues.
The WNBA players have continuously used their voices and demonstrated their support. Some players have even opted out of the season to join the fight on the front lines.
350 NBA players wore jerseys with messages pertaining to the movement. The jerseys worn on the first day of the season’s return were auctioned off online to raise money for the new Players Justice fund which has already raised more than $700,000.
The league also committed itself to donate to different organizations for the movement, turning their arenas into polling places for the 2020 election, and having all their players registered to vote.
These actions do not seem sufficient enough for one of Deerfield High’s varsity baseball players, Tyler Small.
“I don’t think [professional league offices] have handled it at all. When you look at the players’ aspect, they have definitely done their part and made their voices heard to the world that we need change,” Small said. “However, the owners and the people running the leagues have not done their part. They should make their voices heard for their players as well as our country.”
On Aug. 26, the NBA’s Milwaukee Bucks made an impactful statement by opting not to play in a playoff game against the Orlando Magic in protest of the police shooting of Jacob Blake in Kenosha, Wis.
This horrific shooting sparked even more outrage, as many athletes refused to play in some games by walking out and demonstrating a powerful statement in support of the Black Lives Matter movement.
Players from multiple leagues wore shirts with action-oriented messages, knelt during the national anthem, posted on social media, and spoke out directly to the public against police brutality.
Naomi Osaka, a female tennis player, wore a different face mask each day to her U.S. Open matches with the name of a Black life lost at the hands of police brutality or other acts of racial violence. She intended to promote the dialogue that had been growing and demand justice with her message.
“Before I am an athlete, I am a Black woman. And as a Black woman, I feel as though there are much more important matters at hand that need immediate attention, rather than watching me play tennis,” said Osaka at the time.
All types of athletes and organizations from all different leagues have continued to use their voices on and off-field platforms to demand justice and change for marginalized communities that continue to be oppressed by systemic racism and acts of violence.
Sports have long brought change, conversations, and people closer together. There is no doubt that athletes from across the sporting world will continue to show that they can make an impact in our society that matters even more than their performances on a field or court.
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