Sports Activism in America

Jinal Tailor
The Smart Play
Published in
10 min readFeb 24, 2018

‘When you walk through a storm, hold your head up high and don’t be afraid of the dark.’’’- ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’

This song which has so much meaning and history behind it means many different things to different people. For the Liverpool faithful, it is a song of hope and optimism, for Nelson Mandela it enscapulated his imprisonment at Robben Island and provided a reserve of strength. Last year in September during the Trump hot-takes of players taking the knee, it took on another meaning. Bill Russell was an 11-time NBA champion but more importantly than that he was a proponent of black equality and showed his support for figures such as Martin Luther King and Muhammad Ali during his tenure as one of the foremost fathers of the NBA. Bill Russell quoted this song for giving him strength during a time in which his home was vandalised by ignorant and racist whites in Boston during the 1950s and 60s.

This song and particularly the ‘sweet silver song of a lark’ could be seen as a metaphor for sports activism in America, every athlete who has faced injustice stands together and tries to change the structure of society so there is greater equality as Bill Russell did when he called out the racial quotas in the NBA’s early day. We can now see players such as LeBron James and Colin Kapernick take a stand on these issues instead of being threatened financially into surrender. Moreover, it could be argued that the hope and optimism of the anthem is more is even more relevant today as it provides something for many poor Americans to hold onto.

The beginning of sports activism in America began with two key figures, Bill Russell and Muhammad Ali. Bill Russell protested against the segregation on America with one particular instance standing out. The Celtics went to play in Lexington, Kentucky for an exhibition. The team had taken all of their starters including Bill Russell, KC Jones and Sam Jones and were going to play a match in order to get prepped for the regular season. However, Kentucky a state in which race relations were poor and the African-American Celtics were refused at a restaurant at they went to eat. The rest of the team including players like Tom Heinsohn were allowed but not the black players. Bill Russell protested by flying back home to Boston and not partaking in the game.

This simple action caused consternation across America as it was a proud and somewhat arrogant black man acting with his own free will instead of complying with the wishes of the largely white sports ownership and media. Bill Russell was truly a legendary activist and still remains to be a fervent supporter of removing racial stereotypes and supporting other athletes to break down barriers as activits. At the age of 83, Bill Russell took the knee in solidarity with players such as Colin Kapernick in order to show that athletes have a history of speaking on social issues and should not be pigeon-holed into just their sports.

Muhammad Ali was a special sports activist, his decision to refues the draft and utter the line that has become immortalised, ‘I ain’t got no quarrel with the Viet Cong’. His stance on this social issue was incredibly layered. On one layer, it was a black man at the peak of his powers as a boxer refusing to going and fight in a war for a nation that had not respected black people. Dejure segregation may have been removed through legislation in the 1960s such as the Civil Rights Act however black people still lived in de facto segregated communities and in poverty. Muhammad Ali in effect was standing up for African-Americans and proving that they were not just cannon fodder in a meaningless war that was not relevant for many Americans.

Furthermore, Muhammad Ali also stood up as a pacifist who did not want to fight and was in many ways sick of violence that had existed in America since the start of the Cold War. America had fought three wars in succession since 1940 and had also been involved in heightened political tensions around the globe for twenty one years from 1945 to 1966. In terms of sports activism, it was unpredecented as no other athlete have willingly sacrificed the prime of their career in order to take a stand on an issue.

It must be noted that the 1960s and 1970s were a key period for sports activism, particularly among African-American athletes due to the ideologies that permeated around black communities across America. The Southern Christian Leadership called for non-violent protest such as the March on Montgomery. Other African-Americans embraced more militant tenets such as the Nation of Islam or Malcolm X who argued that for black men and women to gain equality, it must be achieved through all actions necessary.

However, a gesture that became famous was the ‘Black Power’ salute which was done by Tommie Smith and John Carlos in the medal ceremony of the 1968 Olympics in Mexico City. These two African-Americans stood up as activists on the platform of black equality in America. The argument was that black people should be not been racially discriminated against due to the colour of their skin. They stood up for better public housing for African-Americans and better education for their children.

This gesture of raising their arms in the air with a solitary black glove on their hand was simple and powerful in its manner. It proved that African-Americans could take a stand against issues even when they were expected to be grateful to the establishment for their opportunities at the Olympics. Moreover, it created a media storm back in the States which brought a level of awareness to issues that were largely ignored by the American government and the media. The issue of improving public housing was not a popular topic in America and many politicians, Republican and Democrats wanted to sweep this issue under the carpet.

Activism among sports stars took a little bit of a backseat throughout the 1980s before a man formerly known as Chris Jackson took a stand on the hardwood. Chris Jackson was a former LSU standout who had turned pro and become an integral part of the Denver Nuggets. However, to call this player Chris Jackson would not respect the man or the choices that he had made, his name is Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf. Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf was an African-American who was shocked by Anti-Islamic rhetoric during the 1990s and the plight of many people who had lived in America or in nations that had been affected by American influence such as Afghanistan. There was no doubt of his citizenship to America, he was an American but his choice to protest during the national anthem was his right. The 1st Amendment established freedom of speech as a right and therefore this man was legally to cast his eyes downcast and recite a prayer for those suffering during the national anthem.

Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf had made a stand against Anti-Islamic rhetoric and the effect of American influence home and abroad but it did come at a cost. Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf’s NBA career suffered hugely, he went from a solid contributor/ borderline All-Star to a bit part player to eventually falling out of the NBA and into the obscurity of the European leagues. It was an example of the times in America where stands against symbols such as the National Flag were few and far between due to the fact many athletes feared losing their careers.

Michael Jordan was a good example of the African-American who took a calculated and careful stance towards improving race relations in America and bringing awareness to issues that many people ignored. Michael Jordan was stringently apolitical, he did not take a stand on key issues such as Rodney King Trial and largely avoided talking about the experiences of African-Americans in a society that was prejudiced against African-Americans. Jordan even uttered the line that Republicans ‘buy sneakers as well’ as justification for not taking a political stance that most of the NBA would take.

Michael Jordan set a tone for the NBA superstar that was very different compared to the Magic Johnson’s and Bill Russells of the past. Michael Jordan was more focused on his own advancement rather than helping communities by using his stature and influence as a cultural icon. Until very recently, sports activism was dormant and it required the issue of police prejudice and racial discrimination to bring sports activism back to the forefront of the media.

The death of many young African-Americans such as Trayvon Martin and Michael Brown meant that athletes felt a need and a sense of compassion for these young people who have been cut down in the prime of their life. NBA teams such as the Miami Heat took a stand on these issues with a symbolic gestures of all the players wearing black hoodies and a hashtag that said ‘WeAreTrayvonMartin’. This type of gesture led LeBron James among many other NBA players such as Dwyane Wade, Chris Paul and Stephen Curry to grow the confidence in order to take a stand on social issues. In many ways these athletes killed the ‘Stick to Sports’ Era that the conservative media liked to promote as they feared what athletes of this stature and influence could do to change the relations between African-Americans and the police.

The face of American sports activism is a man whose actions have influenced many different athletes such as Karl Anthony Towns and Brandon Marshall, athletes who have made their voice known on social issues such as police brutality and systemic oppression by the US government. Colin Kaepernick is the one name who has defined sports activism for the last three years. One simple gesture in the form of kneeling for the national anthem caused much consternation among key NFL demographics and the NFL ownership. One simple gesture led to many other players replicating the gesture and keeping the flame of protest going well into 2018 and the infamous Trump tweets. Donald Trump tweeted that all NFL players who had protested the national anthem were showing disrespect to the military and therefore should be fired from their jobs.

For African-Americans it is a double-bind and in many ways a no-win situation. If an African-American athlete comes out and stands for an issue such as police brutality, they are seen to be disrespecting the military and are ‘traitors’ to a country that they have grown up in. In contrast, if an athlete stays quiet and does not say anything about the issues, they lose respect in their local communities for not using their influence to try and improve the position of African-Americans across the country.

Colin Kaepernick chose to follow his heart and took the knee in order to raise awareness over the issues and create a social following that will call out for political change. It has meant that NFL owners will not hire Colin Kaepernick at any costs due to the fact his progressive political views disagree with the more conservative mindset of NFL billionaires. It seems strange that a country that is about the freedom of speech will not hire a talented player who has expressed different political opinions.

Activism amongst athletes does not solely relate to African-American issues but also other problems that have existed in America such as the North Carolina Bathroom Bill. The North Carolina Bill prohibited transgender people from using a bathroom of their choice and meant that they had to use a bathroom that was designated by the gender at birth. This could be considered a prejudiced and hurtful measure to members of the trans community for the fact it placed them in vulnerable situations where they were not comfortable with themselves. The 1st Amendment’s freedom of expression clause seemed to go out of the window when this policy was signed into the law by Governor Pat McCrory, a Republican.

The NBA took a strong stance on the issue as a very public organisation that appeals to a wide range of people. The NBA Head Office led by the Commissioner Adam Silver decided to move the All-Star game from Charlotte to New Orleans out of protest for a discriminatory bill. This type of measure was not purely symbolic, it has a tangible effect on businesses and the perception of Charlotte by most Americans. A well-run All-Star would leave commentators praising Charlotte as a expanding metropolitan city. However, the NBA’s withdrawing the All-Star game from Charlotte meant that the conversation became about the unfairness of the Bathroom Bill and the daily discrimination that transgender people experience.

Another issue that athletes have taken a stand on is the disparity between the female and male tennis circuit. The men’s tennis circuit is seen to be far superior technically and the better form of the game due to the fact it is longer and players such as Novak Djokovic or Andy Murray can hit the ball harder and force opponents into more difficult shots. On the other hand, the women’s form of the game is seen as lesser due to the fact the match is only three sets and the shots that women play are much more technical.

Female tennis players such as Serena Williams have been vocal in their stands against the perception of the women’s game in comparison to the men’s game. Serena Williams has put dominant performances on against all of her competitors such as Sabine Lisicki and Johanna Konta for a number of years and has gained all of the titles to prove that she is as good of a tennis player as male players are. Williams has been driven by statements by ex-pros such as John McEnroe to prove that she is as good or better in terms of her skills. In her own way, she has taken a stand on issues facing the women’s game.

Sports activism in America has boomed since the turn of the century and especially during the last few years as divisions have grown within America. The race relations between the police and African-Americans have become significantly worse and athletes have felt the need to speak out on these issues in order to try and fix systemic issues in America. The ‘Stick to Sports’ Era is over and a previously sacred topic in the form of political and social issues have now become fair game in the sports arena. This is why statements by Fox News’ hot-take specialists do not carry much weight and why the ‘Shut up and Dribble’ line that was dropped by Laura Ingraham did not have any effect in preventing the sports community from discussing the stance of Donald Trump.

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