The Evolution of Athlete Social Justice Protests
At one time, it was rare that a professional athlete would speak up about anything regarding social justice. Deciding to go against that meant that ridicule would be sure to follow. This was true for Muhammad Ali, track and field stars Tommie Smith and John Carlos, who infamously stood on the awards podium with raised fists during the national anthem at the 1968 Olympic Games, Peter Norman, who was the third man on that podium with Smith and Carlos, Lebron James, and Colin Kaepernick.
In the late 1960s, boxing legend Ali decided not to enter the draft to fight in the Vietnam War. Ali was a firm believer of the Muslim principles, which is what led to his decision. With segregation still a very big part of America’s culture, many African Americans were uncomfortable with the idea of fighting for a country that did not value people that looked like them.
Following his decision to not enter the military draft, Ali sat down with some of sport’s biggest athletes to discuss his decision, which was later known as the “Ali Summit”. With the understanding that their careers would be at jeopardy, these athletes still chose to support Ali.
Carlos and Smith raising their fists to the national anthem would become one of the biggest moments in sports history. But for Peter Norman of Australia, that monumental moment would cost him his career. After expressing support for the Olympic Project for Human Rights, Australia shamed him and never selected him to be a part of another Olympic team.
Recently, many athletes have decided to participate in protests and use their platforms to address racial issues that have plagued our country for far too long. NBA players Dwight Howard and Kyrie Irving have been encouraging their fellow colleagues to sit out the rest of the season as a protest against police brutality and racial injustice.
“There will be no more sweeping harsh realities under the rug or putting band-aids on the scars just to rip them off down the line. It’s time we hold everybody accountable… Justice is demanded. Sustainable change is necessary”, says Washington Wizards player Bradley Beal.
The Washington Mystics and Wizards recently organized a protest to symbolize unity. An Instagram post made by the Washington Wizards read, “Together we stand. Our actions must speak louder than our words.” As of late, there have been several WNBA players that have decided to sit out their 2020 season to focus on social justice reform.
From the time that Ali spoke on America’s prejudices to present day, not much has changed. Athletes need to be vocal about social issues. If not, some people will act like they don’t exist.
Photo Credits:
Olympic/Black Power photo- history.com
Ali Summit photo- cleveland.com
Together We Stand photo- wjla.com
Report: Brionna Thompson
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