Chicago Bulls shooting guard Craig Hodges’ incredible talent opened many doors to acquire fame and riches - but he chose the path that would set his people free.
Hodges’ first attempt to call out the NBA’s lack of diversity in leadership backfired. He suggested a boycott of Game 1 of the 1991 finals to bring attention to the issue!
When players refused, he used his 1990-91 season champion status to deliver a powerful message directly to the U.S. President.
“This letter is not begging for anything, but 300 years of free slave labor has left the African American community destroyed. It is time for a comprehensive plan for change,” began Hodges’ 8-page letter to then-President George H.W. Bush.
His choice of White House visit attire (a dashiki honoring his ancestral heritage) and blatant protest against injustice caused the league to act.
Just like the NFL did to Colin Kaepernick, Hodges (a back-to-back champion) was blackballed from the league.
Yet to this day he doesn’t regret his outspoken actions for a second.
“When people are oppressed, somebody has to stand up,” he told SLAM online.
He continued: “Everybody has to carry their mantle where they are.” Without question, we must continue to be honest about our condition despite the backlash from those who want to maintain a lie.