Seven bullets. Seven bullets fired into the back of Jacob Blake, yet another unarmed Black person has fallen victim to what can only be described as police brutality. Seven bullets that sent the country down a path all too familiar, one that features people in the streets crying, begging, pleading for Black peoples’ right to exist. Seven bullets that reopened a centuries-old wound that America has never allowed to heal.
And for but a moment in time, those seven bullets caused the world of sports to stop turning on its axis – because those athletes that we cheer for, respect and admire are fed up too.
“It’s not right. It’s just not right,” asserts former USC guard Jonah Mathews, who will suit up professionally overseas for the Leicester Riders this coming season.
It started one week ago with the Milwaukee Bucks. Led by veteran guard George Hill, the team decided to not take the court in Game 5 of their playoff matchup against the Orlando Magic. The shooting hit extremely close to home for the team, as it took place in Kenosha, WI, just forty miles south of Milwaukee’s arena. This decision would catalyze a domino effect throughout the rest of the NBA – along with the WNBA, MLB, MLS, NFL and other major sports leagues and figures – that ultimately led to a league-wide work stoppage.
What ensued was a chaotic 24 hours that witnessed a flurry of rumors, speculation and controversy. The NBA players had meetings, contacted political figures and debated amongst themselves about how to proceed. When heads hit the pillow last Wednesday night, there was a real possibility that the season would end.
“You were seeing all these different reports that the Lakers and the Clippers didn’t want to continue with the playoffs or the season,” USC sophomore guard India Otto said. “I think definitely I had a feeling like, ‘I don’t think that it’s going to continue the rest of the season.’”
Just as quickly as the situation seemed to heat up, however, things cooled off. Less than a day after the strike had started, the players came to an agreement with league officials to continue to play, on the contingency that the NBA does three things: form a social justice coalition made up of players, coaches and owners, work with players and broadcast networks to uplift the voices of the players on social issues and convert NBA arenas into polling stations for elections to help increase voting access to the Black community.
All worthy endeavors – there are some, however, who believe the players could have demanded more of the NBA’s leadership in the pursuit of racial justice.
“Everyone has their own opinions, but I feel like the owners could’ve done way more than just opening their arena,” Mathews said. “[They] have a lot of pull in that area being that they’re the owners of NBA teams.”
To others, like USC basketball legend Lisa Leslie, it is more important that the athletes focus on what is within their immediate control.
“These billionaires are not necessarily going to do anything different than what they’re doing right now, which is nothing,” Leslie explained. “It’s just really tough to me to bank on trying to change someone else when you have the opportunity to control your own actions.”
Regardless of where one stands as it relates to this nuanced debate, what cannot be denied is that action — beyond demonstrative displays of solidarity — is necessary. This act of protest by the NBA players, brief as it was, displayed the true power in the platform of the Black athlete. As we continue to traverse this path of seeking social equity, you better believe that the ripple effects of August 26th, 2020 will be felt for decades to come. Which begs the question:
Where do we go from here?
For USC Athletics, the objectives are simple – ensure that everyone’s voices are heard.
“As a team, we’ve all registered [to vote],” Otto said. “And we’ve been challenging other teams to get all of their players registered as well.”
Among those who have accepted the challenge are the men’s basketball team, women’s golf team and men’s golf team. USC athletic director Mike Bohn has also committed to not having athletic activities on election day, allowing student-athletes ample time to vote.
Efforts towards social justice do not stop at voting registration. This summer we witnessed the formation of the United Black Student-Athlete Association at USC, an organization that aims to use the Black student-athletes’ position of influence to improve circumstances for the Black community. While many would rather see these athletes’ contributions to the university stop at the playing field, these members of the USC community understand that they are more than the sport they play and that their voices are impactful.
“We’re people,” Mathews emphasized. “We’re not just some athletes that are to be watched.”
From a societal standpoint, the question of how to proceed from this point is a bit more difficult to answer. It is a sad reality to accept, but it is difficult to believe that those seven bullets that paralyzed Jacob Blake will be the last to meet the body of an unarmed and undeserving Black person. The road ahead is uncertain, and surely will present a great deal of hardship and struggle – progress, after all, is never easily attained. But, while no one can predict what exactly the path will contain, Leslie has a pretty good grasp on what the destination looks like.
“When we get to a place of equality where we can just recognize that we’re all human beings, that we’re all doing our best and that there’s a place and enough for all of us, we’re going to be a better country.”