Listening to understand is a powerful tool in gaining the perspective of another. One of the aspects of the Sports Can Battle Racism initiative we are proudest of has been the opportunity to provide a forum for a dialogue to occur centered on acceptance, inclusion, and equity within the context of sports and beyond. Through our various roundtables, discussions, and workshops, we have been fortunate enough to benefit from the perspectives of a wide spectrum of accomplished thought leaders, as well as some of the most prolific athletes of color, who have broken through racial and gender barriers, heralding lasting positive change in their wake.
While our platform has given voice to a multitude of perspectives since we launched the program, we are excited to share a select few below that we believe represent some of the most profound points of view and moments that have shaped this dialogue over the past twelve months.
Imani shares the honesty of her own past adversity and interpersonal challenges, to convey why it is so important for young people in underserved communities to see someone like themself, someone who comes from the same place as them who made it, and why that representation is critical to inspiring them.
Rodney Page describes why it is so important to help young athletes understand their self-worth and acknowledge their own inner gifts, regardless of their situation, to be able to draw that purpose out of them and fully recognize their value and dignity.
Danielle Slaton reflects on whether our own personal biases influence the messages we send to our youth players as a coach and the role it can play for coaches of all backgrounds in how we may at times treat athletes differently based on gender and race.
In the aftermath of a racial slur from an anonymous participant during a live Zoom workshop, Trennis Jones took the moment to reflect upon it and to illustrate just how harmful these actions can be for a young athlete. He also acknowledged that a hallmark of progress is many times measured by the level of resistance elicited from those that would seek to oppress it, and his pride in the work being done in the Sports Can Battle Racism initiative. The last highligted part here doesn’t go with the rest of the sentence. You could add instead, “He has great pride in the work being done in the SCBR initiative.
Rick George shares how important it is to be sure that we are educating our leaders, educating our coaches, and inviting all players to come together and have honest and emotional conversations to create the positive change that is necessary.
Lanny Smith encourages everyone to see athletes as people first. He discusses the dichotomy of black athletes being celebrated for the plays they make but criticized for speaking-up up for their rights as people.
As both a thought leader in the NBPA and as a mother, Chrysa Chin reflects on the tremendous impact coaches have on young athletes and the importance of surrounding kids with positive influences, especially when there are some organizations and coaches that may prioritize winning and developing pro talent at the expense of what’s best for kids’ emotional and social well-being.
Positive Perspectives
Given the events of the past year many voices beyond our own have also sounded off in support of equity and inclusivity in this country, both within and outside of sports. Because we passionately believe this discourse is critical to transformational change, we have curated some of the most inspiring and prolific perspectives below.