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Over the last number of weeks we have seen college athletes take action against racism in their athletic programs, on their college campuses, perpetuated by their college administration & institutional racism in American society. 1/x
For instance, @_treclark & @LandTayvion actively leaving @LibertyU due to anti-Black racism being perpetuated by university administration. 2/x https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/29348510/two-liberty-football-players-cite-racial-insensitivity-decision-transfer
@UCLAFootball players demanding a third party mediator on hand to ensure proper protocol is being followed during training because the players do not trust Chip Kelly to keep them safe. 3/x https://www.latimes.com/sports/ucla/story/2020-06-19/ucla-football-players-demand-protections-amid-pandemic-return
Or Kansas State College Athletes choosing to not participate in athletic activities until action is taken to reprimand a racist student. 4/x https://www.wibw.com/2020/06/26/several-k-state-mbb-football-players-say-they-wont-play-unless-school-takes-action-against-jaden-mcniel/
Texas football players also made demands & are not participating in recruiting activities. 5/x https://www.texastribune.org/2020/06/12/ut-austin-football-players-buildings-racism/
Also, @Hubbard_RMN calling out coach Gundy for wearing racist paraphernalia and demanding change. 6/x https://ftw.usatoday.com/2020/06/oklahoma-state-mike-gundys-t-shirt-boycott
There are a lot more examples of college athletes, men & women, across sports standing up to demand change at their universities. These actions are unprecedented & mark a truly historical moment in college athletics. Consider the immense risk all of these players are taking 7/x
They have little to no protection against coaches & universities retaliating against them. They could easily lose playing time, their scholarships & even lose out on professional opportunities 8/x
They are being threatened & condemned by "fans" & "supporters". There is historical precedence where college players taking action against racism have lost playing time, lost scholarships, & experienced violence. 9/x https://theundefeated.com/features/black-athletes-have-always-been-at-forefront-of-the-struggle/
Also, check out this short video on the "Black 14" 10/x https://aeon.co/videos/in-1969-black-football-players-stood-against-racism-in-one-of-the-whitest-states-in-the-us
And the IU 10... 11/x https://www.indystar.com/story/sports/college/indiana/2015/05/28/indiana-university-announces-reconciliation-1969-iu-10/28089015/
Yet these individuals, across sports & across gender, are still choosing to fight against systemic racism despite the personal risks & retaliation they are receiving. They are still taking action despite their precarious situation. 12/x
These individuals have become aware of the immense power they possess as a labor class. Without their labor, there is no college athletics, there are no multi-million $ coaching salaries, no multi-billion $ apparel companies. 13/x
Continue to champion these individuals, amplify their voices, provide support, & fight along side them to create change in college athletics, on university campuses, & in American society. Change is coming: these college athletes are risking it all to make sure it happens. 14/14
