Black Athletes Are Not Your Robots
In the wake of protests across the nation, it’s imperative for society’s most prominent figures to stand up.
The last few years can be best characterized as emotionally taxing and even traumatic for person of color. Because of the vast reach of social media and HD cameras, we’ve been inundated with graphic acts of violence carried out by those entrusted to maintain order.
Alton Sterling. Philando Castile. Delrawn Small.
Those are the men who have been senselessly murdered in the last 10 days. Murdered for simply being black. While there are people who will somehow try to contend that point blank multiple shots were a necessity, these victims’ demise have come with little to no resistance or provocation. They didn’t have to die.
There’s an inherent fear of black skin that is in the forefront of the minds of cops. Not only are people of color not afforded discretion or benefit of doubt from the cops they encounter, but their lives have shown to be not even worthy of justice being seriously pursued.
The newsworthy events have impacted a bevy of professional athletes. Last week, Houston Texans’ wideout Jaelen Strong took to Twitter to express his thoughts.
Strong’s unfiltered opinion isn’t anything particular. However, the response that his tweets elicited is what stood out. One fan actually tweeted the following: “some things are better kept to yourself. We need you as a playmaker this year. Clear eyes, full heart. Texas forever yeeeehaww”. This singular response highlighted the self-serving relationship America has with black athletes.
Just a month ago, we were remembering the fearless brilliance of Muhammad Ali outside the ring. We celebrated the unwavering passion he had for Black America. There were several excellent pieces on The Undefeated and The Nation detailed the orations in which Ali spoke proudly about his blackness. Even being a world champion, Ali held tight to his responsibility to be a voice for a population that was battered, bruised, and ignored by the rest of America.
And yet, there are people in 2016 — mostly white men — who still think black athletes should shut up and play.
White fans have the privilege to view their favorite players are instruments of entertainment. With a jersey on and exceptional athletic skill, those fans are able to separate them from the rest of us. Somehow, they’re able to overlook the purest, undeniable identity of these athletes. They don’t see them as complete human beings. They don’t even give it a second thought to not see them as exclusively black men. Perhaps, for that reason it’s easy to not want them to speak up on these matters. Except, that isn’t logical.
The New York Daily News ran Carmelo Anthony’s well-thought out statement regarding what’s been happening. And what struck me as powerful is Anthony call to action.
I’m calling for all my fellow ATHLETES to step up and take charge…We can’t worry about what endorsements we gonna lose or whose going to look at us crazy. I need your voices to be heard. We can demand change. We just have to be willing to.
Anthony has been out in the streets with protestors on previous occasions. He’s been consistently outspoken on how athletes can affect change simply by virtue of who they are and how far their reach goes. In his post, he purposefully used an image of his sports predecessors to drive the point home to his peers.
Black athletes today have more power and social currency than ever. Their fans are becoming more tapped in and aware of what’s going on beyond the confines of a bubble.
It matters that fans know that the men they idolize and root for are just as vulnerable as the millions of normal black peopl because we all share the common existence in a world that sees us as villainous superheroes.
America’s relationship with black sports figures has always been one of convenience and greed. Many fans expect athletes to act one way, speak one way, and maneuver in everyday life one way.
Cam Newton celebrated dabbed his way to regular season MVP and the Superbowl. People hated — even went so far as to write letters to newspapers — his celebratory dances and his (merited) arrogance.
Odell Beckham Jr. and Josh Norman were both called “thugs” across social media after their week 15 match-up turned into a UFC match. That word has become a deprecatory alternative to the N word. It’s a word reserved for the black athletes America loves whenever theyexhibit any behavior other than the unrealistic archetype.
The fact that Jaelen Strong directly responded to the fan’s request to “be a playmaker” didn’t surprise me. It only further displayed how badly mainstream America needs activism to be a platform black athletes embrace.
Bradley Beal tweeted #blacklivesmatter the night that a sniper attacked a BLM peaceful protest and killed five Dallas police officers. When attacked by fans for his stance, he doubled down on his IG: “The issue at hand regards my race and I have every right to speak on it! If you don’t like it, it’s a big ass UNFOLLOW button on the top of my page!”
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Torrey Smith, who sounded off on players’ rights when Kevin Durant announced his decision to join the Golden State, used less than 140 characters to dispel the ridiculous argument of black-on-black crime that many people defer to as means to demean the BLM movement.
Black athletes are controlling their own narrative in every area, including their sociopolitical beliefs and values. They are inserting themselves in the conversation of fighting for social justice. They are reminding fans that they are indeed black, first and foremost.
Although it isn’t outwardly stated, American sports fans are uncomfortable with black athletes who don’t kneel or bow in submission.
White America wants to be entertained, given a momentary escape from the chaotic world we live. However, for black athletes, they fight an ongoing battle. It’s not a battle they chose, but it is one they were born in and live with everywhere they go.
In a time where the bodies of people of color are suffering the most from a common culprit, black athletes are freely reminding America that they don’t come with an off switch.
