“Taking a knee or taking your talents elsewhere?”
There has been yet another knee taken in an NFL opener, this time by Houston Texans players after team owner Robert C. McNair made a statement regarding players in the NFL protesting before the game. He stated that, We can’t let the inmates rule the prison.” A comment that he later apologized for, but the damage had already been done. His players, in a move of defiance, staged a protest against him for his comments. So with that said, What will it take before Black athletes go off and start their own league?” Are we close to seeing the Negro Leagues open up once again. The Negro Leagues for baseball when Black players could not play in the majors. But Black players are allowed in the majors, but with the social issues of America still looming, they are encouraged today not to be involved. With starting their own league, they wouldn’t have to deal with what comes with being in the NBA, NFL, or MLB from fans.
But my question is, is it really that detrimental at this stage? Or, are we more sensitive because there is more in mass media that is pumped to us. If we saw everything that took place during the Civil Rights Era, the fight might have been even worse as well. We see everything now; everything is on camera and everything is for mass consumption. So when you hear police shooting an unarmed Black male, you react quicker today than in the past. And since there is a news story everyday, it makes you paranoid with the police. So much so, a lot of these players are now in the fight. A move that has irritated the NFL’s predominantly White fan base. The Black players say why aren’t more White men and women angry regarding the recent protesting in favor of the Confederate flag and monuments in the Southern states. So now, you hear rumblings of starting a league for these players. But once again, is it that serious?
America has always had these social issues, especially the issues concerning racial tension. But people who are fans of sports show up to the games to escape the social and political issues that makeup America today. So to them, is it really necessary to create a whole other league because of the introduction of a few recent issues. Because in the past Black players had no other choice but to create a separate league. That’s like Black students stating that we will only attend HBCU (Historically Black Colleges and Universities) from here on out because other universities won’t acknowledge issues surrounding police brutality. In the end, these social issues aren’t slowing down. Not as long as this current White House Administration is in office. And for those reasons, it’s going to be a long 3 years.
https://faheemjackson.squarespace.com/ (PERSONAL WEBSITE)
https://www.facebook.com/fjacks063 (FAN PAGE)
Medium.com/@faheemjackson
@theefaheemjackson Instagram
@2320howe Twitter
the word 