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We’ve all heard the arguments. “Why are they protesting the people who died for their freedom to make so much money?” “Why are they making this an issue for the NFL?” “We can survive without football, but not our law enforcement officers.” “This isn’t the NFL’s issue, just play football and be thankful for the opportunities provided for you to be rich.”
As a Black Man and a member of Law enforcement, I am insulted by these statements.
In the interest of fairness and transparency, let’s talk about what is not in dispute.
• Making it into the NFL is a blessing and not a right
• Being successful in the NFL even more so
• A successful player in the NFL can make more money and live a life that most can only imagine.
These are the facts and they are not in dispute. Here are some more facts, also not in dispute
• 70% of the NFL is Black
• The NFL grossed $13 Billion dollars in 2016
• 7 of the top 10 jerseys sold by the NFL belong to Black Players
The truth of the matter is that Americans are spending billions of dollars buying jerseys, playing fantasy games, and filling stadiums to capacity. The message, entertain me, and keep your political/social justice issues to yourself. Which begs the question. What would happen if 70% of this $13B workforce decided to just take a knee or call in sick next Thursday, Sunday, and Monday. My guess, catastrophe, and not just for the NFL, but the 32 cities that employ 110,000 people in support of their teams and pumps $5B (yup that’s B for billion) into the broader economies of the same. All that to support approximately 2,000 players on active rosters, the overwhelmingly clear majority of them Black. For the NFL, the fans, and even law enforcement officers to say that the concerns of the Black players aren’t our concerns is myopic at best.
As a fan and law enforcement officer, I believe it is a myth to state that the concerns of the NFL and its Black players are unrelated. Whether the NFL, or the fans want to acknowledge it or not, some of its biggest concerns should be the issues that these gladiators, our heroes, have deemed important enough to risk wealth, social standing, fame, and fortune over. The NFL is a massive corporation and as with any corporation it’s most valuable assets are the people who go out and represent “The Shield” every single day, twice on Sunday.
The constitution of the United States was written to ensure the rights of its citizens, the most sacred of which is freedom of speech. This living document codifies our values and is not stagnant, but designed to live and breathe so that America would always improve and forever serve Americans.
There is a solution … brutally honest, open and transparent communication brokered by the NFL.
There are multiple tax-payer financed stadiums across the US. The NFL, along with their sponsors, could coordinate events in those stadiums to promote unity, cooperation, and open communication between black/brown communities. Imagine the solutions and agreements to be had if the greatest community minds partnered with the greatest minds of law enforcement, and local legislators, all mediated by the greatest beneficiary, the NFL.
This would show that the NFL values their main attraction, which is the Black Male athlete. It would show true solidarity with the issues that their employees face as well as the communities which are their biggest recruiting grounds. I would stand for that every single day, twice on Sunday.
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Photo: Getty Images