By Nunnie Robinson, WG Sports Editor
If you read my article last week titled “Let’s Re-Segregate Athletic Conferences in the Racist Deep South,” then you are cognizant of my personal call to action, as well as my feelings, which compelled me to integrate sports and politics in light of the Supreme Court eviscerating protections drenched in the blood of past civil rights martyrs. My premise was based on Black athletes choosing schools outside the Deep South, where redistricting, illegal gerrymandering, and overt racism have become preferred methods of governance, leading to minority disenfranchisement.
I’m pleased to report that my idea, perhaps, isn’t so far-fetched after all, as several podcasters, sportswriters, and radio personalities are beginning to realize the impact such a movement could have on both the political and sports landscapes.
I recently listened to a podcast hosted by Don Lemon featuring guests Jemele Hill, author and sports journalist; Tennessee Congressman Justin J. Pearson; and sportswriter Myron J. Clifton, all of whom engaged in dialogue advocating that athletes reject schools in states promoting insidious and racist practices. Another columnist, Marc Veasey, has openly advocated a similar concept and approach.
The money generated by our athletes who play for schools in conferences such as the SEC and ACC — particularly in states like Florida, Alabama, Tennessee, and Mississippi — amounts to billions of dollars. That is not an inconsequential sum. I submit that we have the power, the numbers, and the will to galvanize our community into action. The problem, however, is the lack of unity and our inability to coalesce around particular initiatives to combat the “South rising again.”
I’m not so naive as to believe that the onus rests solely on young athletes seeking to secure a future for themselves and their families. This moment in time demands that sports fans and socially conscious professional athletes become involved as well.
Abraham Lincoln stated long ago, “A house divided against itself cannot stand.” Take a nostalgic walk down memory lane and think about the number of great empires that crumbled and disintegrated under the weight of their own tyranny.
Our American democracy is slowly but surely headed in that direction. What is happening politically affects us all — rich and poor, White, Black, Latino, Asian, Native American, athlete and non-athlete, male and female, Christian and Jewish. We will either survive or perish based upon our actions.
VOTE LIKE OUR VERY FUTURE DEPENDS ON IT — BECAUSE IT DOES!