NFL
By: Zach Draves
A jury provided accountability, but athlete activism for black lives is not going anywhere.
Even though the group of 12 rightfully convicted Derek Chavun for the murder of George Floyd, our work is far from finished.
The nine-minute and twenty-nine-second murder that cameras caught on tape last year unleashed the biggest protest movement in American history. It was long overdue and picked up the work that was left undone.
It was during this time that athletes joined in the call.
They took a knee and then took to the streets.
They wore shirts saying the names of those unjustly attacked and killed. They also utilized resources for collective action on everything from policy changes to recruiting an army of new voters in record numbers this past year.
Given the news today, the question to ask is, where do we go from here?
No longer are they confined to the notion that athletes should “stick to sports,” “shut up and dribble,” or “entertain us.”
This generation of athletes means business.
The fact that the NBA considered postponing games near the verdict’s announcement indicates that the escapism that sports is supposedly good for is not realistic at this time.
Does the NBA postponing games mean that our problems are solved?
Of course not.
But it does set the context that much more is at stake.
In other words, who wins on the court is more important than who wins on the court.
This ounce of justice that a jury delivered in Minneapolis is the beginning of a long and treacherous journey towards America living up to ideals proclaimed on paper but not always practiced in public.
Systemic change is past due and needed immediately on everything from policing to prison sentencing.
Athletes, coaches, and other figures in the world of sports will stand tall and stand firm in doing their part.
LeBron James, Colin Kaepernick, Megan Rapinoe, Maya Moore, Gwen Berry, Natasha Cloud, Race Imboden, Renne Montgomery, and countless others carry the torch given to them by Ali, Russell, Jackie, Kareem, Arthur, and Billie Jean.
(Courtesy: The New York Times)
We would be naive to think that one individual case marks the end of this movement.
Thanks to social media and an abundance of access to information, athletes have more ability to keep up on current events and utilizing their name, likeness, and stature in various capacities for social justice.
In the future, expect the sports world to remain committed to the cause and not cave into the ignorance among those who want to reduce athletes to their physicality.
There ain’t no stopping us now because we are on the move.
Rest in Power, George Floyd.
