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Back in the day, sports were a place where we put aside reality and just existed in the moment. But as time went on, no arena, court, or field could remain untouched by racial injustice.
Black athletes knew that the world was watching our people. It started quietly, with small gestures. The raised fist was followed by taking a knee, but these simple gestures were powerful. The statement was clear: We will not stand idly by while injustice persists.
Movements ebbed and flowed but never ceased. After the deaths of Trayvon Martin and George Floyd, Black Lives Matter protests swelled, and athletes were on the front lines. The significance of Black athletes' protests was undeniable.
From Smith and Carlos's iconic salute to Kaepernick taking a knee, Black athletes stood united for justice. Once seen as an escape from social issues, the sports field became an essential platform for raising awareness about the urgent need for change.
For decades, the call for Black athletes to "shut up and play" has been a way to minimize our impact. Black athletes resisting and standing in solidarity challenge the notion that sports and social justice have nothing to do with each other.