College Football Players Confront Racial Inequality
Student-athletes find their voice in the return of college football
There is no playbook for how to conduct social movements. They take time, education, organization and effort, but there aren’t any guidelines to adhere to or rules to follow. History proves just how unorderly reformation can be, but the world of collegiate football has now gotten a taste.
Despite the impact that COVID-19 had on the 2020 National College Athletic Association (NCAA) football schedule, several conferences have chosen to continue playing this fall. This decision—amidst a global pandemic and one of the most pivotal racial justice movements in history—is questionable. However, student-athletes are finally able to use their voice for change.
“Over the course of the past year, our country has witnessed some of the most atrocious racial injustices against countless Black & African-American people,” said Trevor Lawrence, the Clemson University quarterback and 2020 Heisman Trophy favorite. “Too many have fallen victim to racial injustice and systemic inequities. Enough is enough. Real change must come.”
Nearly 40 teams cancelled their fall season and pushed it to the spring. Until last week, the Big Ten and Pac-12—two of five Power 5 conferences—had similar plans. On Sept. 16, the Big Ten announced that their schedule would resume play on Oct. 24. The Pac-12 recently reapproved their conference’s football season, but a start date has yet to be announced. They are now the only conference in the Power 5 without a set schedule.
No collegiate athlete in their 20s has all the answers, but progress is being made. Roughly 50% of Division 1 college football players are Black. Those players’ platforms are extremely powerful. Before any NCAA football games were played, a committee of Pac-12 football players created a contract called #WeAreUnited, challenging the NCAA to make imperative changes to the upcoming season. The list covers concerns regarding health procedures for COVID-19, unnecessary budget allocations, economic equity and racial injustice.
In Section three of #WeAreUnited, titled “End Racial Injustice in College Sports and Society,” there are three rules for college athletic programs to take initiatives towards racial justice reform. The rules ask for schools to provide better education about racial injustices, funnel conference revenue into financial aid for low-income Black students and guarantee representation at a Pac-12 Black College Athlete Summit.
Many of the Pac-12’s top athletes like Elisha Guidry, a defensive back at UCLA, have come forward in support of #WeAreUnited.
“You also have the wealth inequalities in the country, the class issues, guys on teams that might not come from a lot, but football is their ticket out,” said Elisha Guidry to ESPN. “It's a realization that Black lives are in danger in our country.”
The commissioners of the Big Ten and Pac-12 came forward as allies in the Black Lives Matter movement. Both conferences stated that kneeling is allowed during the national anthem.
Kevin Warren and Bob Bowlsby, Big Ten and Big 12 commissioners, told reporters that student-athletes would not be prevented from kneeling and would be encouraged to express their free speech.
“[Student-athletes] have found their voice,” said Bowlsby. “I hope it doesn’t end.”
Beyond the individual acts of solidarity, the players released accountable steps for programs to uphold in order to enact specific change. A statement released on Twitter included some of the following points:
Eliminate athletic obligations on Nov. 3 so players can ensure voter registration
Amplify community outreach initiatives
Establish conversations about change (policing legal rights, addressing racial injustice, etc.) between college teams and local governments/communities
Utilize game days as a platform to raise awareness: by wearing shirts, utilizing statements on helmets and jerseys, and playing tribute videos to recognize victims of racial injustice and share our own stories.
Only time will tell if these initiatives actually take shape, but as football games continue, the athletes’ voices grow louder and the fight for racial equality forges ahead.