By Nunnie Robinson, Westside Gazette Sports Editor
Over the Fourth of July weekend, I received texts and emails wishing me a wonderful celebratory day. Having throughout the years seen social progress from the mid to late sixties, including the election of President Obama, my initial reaction was normal and receptive. A not so sudden epiphany overwhelmed my mind, body and soul, in light of the political climate choking, consuming and dismantling the social and political gains of Black Americans in this century. We certainly can’t blame all on 47 and his sycophants, the majority Congress or the Project 2025 creators since, by hook or crook, he won the election which tells me that a major populous in America is aligned with his hatred and racism. What’s my point, you may be pondering. I can’t nor will I celebrate this holiday as usual until or unless something drastically changes. With over 3 years remaining in this reign of atrocities and possibly more, depending on the will of the American people, I don’t see anything getting better for Black Americans and other minorities because we understand the adversary’s nature, which we have been facing since 1619. Two prime examples are the full frontal assault on African American history and the insidious appointment of Attorney Marva Johnson as FAMU’s president by a rogue governor and a tainted board of governors whose votes calcified the maga agenda.
As a result our family no longer celebrates America’s Independence Day as usual because the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence literally don’t apply to us. So we are extending our Juneteenth Celebration calling it a Family Day or Gathering, one filled with love, unity and nostalgia where we revisit our history because we have to fight for our rights and freedoms as citizens of America. My faith in God is unshakable and steadfast, but I believe God wants to use us in a mghty way by standing firm against this tyranny and suppression. While watching the NCAA women and men’s track & field championships, I noticed that a majority of the athletes were African American, including the eventual champion Lady Bulldogs of Georgia and the USC Trojans and Arkansas Razorbacks for the men. Two of the three teams represent states that send politicians to Washington totally aligned with 45-47’s big, beautiful bill. I would love to see our athletes and coaches become cognizant of the pain and suffering these states inflict on its minority population, ranging from voter suppression to voting against the John Lewis Voting Rights legislation to voting against the George Floyd bill. Or Alabama electing a racist Trump loyalist like Tommy Tuberville over a humane Doug Jones.
