I have been having this argument with myself for years. It concerns the decision of athletes of color playing for institutions in states where racism and gender inequality are rampant. I get that each athlete has particular reasons for their decision to play for a school in a state where racism is more alive than dead but there is a cost for society on whole when their decision puts the social progress of our country behind their own ambition. It is a hard thing to tell a young man or woman that they should care more about the direction of their society than they should be about their own way in life. I get that and it is one of the troubling issues in formulating a response that is decisive and correct.
The reason for my arguing with myself is that in these states where racism is more normal than not there are academic institutions where sports are dominant and the main reason is there are players of color who excel in sports and yet choose to play for these schools. The irony here is beyond the loyalty that some local athletes strive to complete the dream of playing for their local schools but players from other regions of the nation are going there for the glamor and the prestige that these schools current success can bring them. I get that but what is the cost? These states where racism is nurtured are not brought to task like they should be to bring about change to their racist polices. Instead their schools are prioritized by their success on the sports fields and courts that transcends the real damage to many millions of lives on a daily basis. All in the name of successful sports.
The allure of success at a high level is always attractive and for some it will always be number one for them. Yet our society continues to foster racism and sexism when we put these issues behind our own ambitions. In all walks of my life I do not tolerate inequality of opportunity even if it means I do without that which I may have. The same for people like Nathan Hale who as a 21 year old told those British Officers, that his regret was that he only had one life to give for his country. A balance for the athletes in our nation would be to reward those states and institution that behaved and practiced equality on the basis of race and gender and ignore those who choose to ignore the rights of all Americans their pursuit of happiness based upon their lack of will to be better human beings.
The reason for my arguing with myself is that in these states where racism is more normal than not there are academic institutions where sports are dominant and the main reason is there are players of color who excel in sports and yet choose to play for these schools. The irony here is beyond the loyalty that some local athletes strive to complete the dream of playing for their local schools but players from other regions of the nation are going there for the glamor and the prestige that these schools current success can bring them. I get that but what is the cost? These states where racism is nurtured are not brought to task like they should be to bring about change to their racist polices. Instead their schools are prioritized by their success on the sports fields and courts that transcends the real damage to many millions of lives on a daily basis. All in the name of successful sports.
The allure of success at a high level is always attractive and for some it will always be number one for them. Yet our society continues to foster racism and sexism when we put these issues behind our own ambitions. In all walks of my life I do not tolerate inequality of opportunity even if it means I do without that which I may have. The same for people like Nathan Hale who as a 21 year old told those British Officers, that his regret was that he only had one life to give for his country. A balance for the athletes in our nation would be to reward those states and institution that behaved and practiced equality on the basis of race and gender and ignore those who choose to ignore the rights of all Americans their pursuit of happiness based upon their lack of will to be better human beings.
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