NFL
Hampton Dares to Win
If you dare to struggle, you dare to win. Chairman Fred Hampton, head of the Chicago chapter of the Black Panther Party in the late 1960s, boldly proclaimed this mantra.
He committed to organizing a multicultural coalition of activists known as the Rainbow Coalition in the timely fight for social change.
Fifty years ago, on December 4th, Chairman Fred was shot and killed in his own home by the Chicago Police Department in front of his pregnant wife. He was only 21 years old.
The CPD was conducting a raid on its own. They were working in close quarters with the FBI’s COINTELPRO operation. The FBI systematically geared the operation towards dismantling social movements of the 1960s and 1970s from within, including the Black Panther Party.
Chairman Fred’s commitment started in the West Chicago suburb of Maywood.
Before he became an international political revolutionary, he was a talented student and athlete.
From Sports to Activism
He played baseball for Proviso East High School in Maywood. While playing, he dreamed about becoming the centerfielder for the New York Yankees.
However, he went to Triton College in River Grove, Illinois, as a pre-law student. He focused on advocating for victims of police brutality and worked on anti-police brutality efforts with the panthers.
That was just one of his many endeavors.
Continued Legacy
Many struggling for racial justice felt his impact, including those at the crossroads of sports and race.
Colin Kaepernick acknowledged Chairman Fred in numerous ways as he has developed as an athlete activist.
Kaepernick wore a t-shirt with Chairman Fred’s picture during a post-game press conference in 2016, acknowledged his August 30th birthday on twitter, and retweeted a video of one of his speeches to commemorate this 50th anniversary.
If anything, Colin is the Fred Hampton of athlete activists. He connects the struggles of African Americans with the trials of other historically oppressed groups to establish solidarity.
One example is his work with Native Americans. This work includes a public appearance at Alcatraz prison in honor of the 50th anniversary of the Occupation of Alcatraz by the American Indian Movement.
Another aspect of Fred Hampton’s legacy is setting a model for student-athletes. He encourages them to follow the dreams of a potential professional sports career. However, you can have a backup plan and live a life of fulfillment and purpose.
As Chairman Fred stated, “I believe I am going to die doing the things that I was born to do.”
Rest In Power.
