By Nunnie Robinson, Westside Gazette Sports Editor
I know this is a sports column, but the attack on African Americans, minorities, immigrants and democracy by this administration makes sports, especially the NFL, difficult to enjoy and watch at best.
A recent verbal assault on Chicago mayor Brandon Johnson, whom 47 called incompetent and bad, threatened the deployment of National Guard troops under the guise of eliminating inner city crime as he has previously done in other minority-led cities, i. e., Los Angeles and Washington, D. C., a full frontal assault on Black people, including DEI and Black History. The racism, hypocrisy, and denigration of democracy is incredibly disturbing and appalling.
Dr. Benjamin Mays, former Morehouse College President, (1940-1967) penned the following in The Oracle, the official publication of the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc., an article titled, A Retarded Civilization, the following: For I have seen wrong sit on the throne, I have seen injustice dictate the policies of the right, and I have seen truth at the mercy of lies, while injustice ruled supreme, and righteousness slumbered and slept beneath the oppressive wheels of an unjust order. Sounds awfully familiar – this iteration of sanctimonious white/maga America under the most corrupt, racist president since Woodrow Wilson. Dr. Mays continued, “The idea that we are a chosen people has retarded our civilization. It has paralyzed our activities and instead of struggling and labouring for what we want and need, we have sat idly by expecting it to come out of the blue in some mysterious, miraculous manner.” The point is that we must fight for what is rightfully ours, not simply assume that we are God’s chosen. Brother Dr. Mays posited, “It is true that right will win, but God intends that we must make it win.”
Politics and sports are disconcerting bedfellows. I vividly recall 47’s verbal assault of Colin Kaepernick for kneeling as the anthem was played for protesting police brutality and racial injustice. A stroll down memory lane long after Jackie Robinson had broken baseball’s color line reveals the overt racism he and his beautiful wife Rachel faced when attempting to buy a home in both California and Connecticut. In addition, lest we forget Hitler’s snub of Jesse Owens in the Berlin Olympics after Owens singlehandedly crushed Hitler’s Aryan superiority theory, winning 4 goal medals in the 100, 200, 4×1 relay and the long jump. Muhammad Ali losing 3 of his best years while in his prime for refusing induction in the army on religious grounds was racially motivated. I know of exceptional Black quarterbacks who were denied professional opportunities because of race, FAMU’s James Tullis and Tennessee State’s Eldridge Dickey being two of them.
So what can we do in navigating this convoluted morass of sports and politics. Sports has a way of soothing the pain and frustration we suffer daily at the hands of this monstrous administration. I pray that we all become passionate voting advocates – registration, education, and mobilization – starting today, ahead of the ‘26 midterms.
Dr. Mays’ prophetic pronouncements are as true today as they were in the thirties, forties, and fifties. If we are God’s chosen people, let’s take back what’s rightfully ours.
LET’s GET TO WORK!
