To say the history of this country would have the same trajectory without sports would be an uninformed assumption. This idea of the importance of athletics is especially true when it comes to the issues of racism and equality for black people in America. Whether it was Muhammad Ali speaking out against social injustice in the 1960s, Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf not standing for the anthem in 1996 in protest of police brutality and oppression, or Colin Kaepernick doing the exact same thing 20 years later, sports figures have used their platform to speak out for generations.
In times of injustice, the most important thing is for the oppressed to have a voice that matters, and for everyone else to listen. The NBA, and its players, have a chance to be that voice because when they come back, the whole world will be listening.
It is important to understand the history and demographics of the NBA before realizing its importance on racial issues in 2020. According to ESPN.com, as of the 2018-19 season, 81.9% of the players in the NBA were of color, with more than 33.3% of head coaches falling into that category as well. Not only are the overwhelming majority of players black, but the league's biggest stars are as well, and have been for decades.
Over the years, the players, coaches, and league executives have been outspoken on racism and social inequalities on multiple occasions. Before Colin Kaepernick took a stand by kneeling, Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf did the same thing 20 years prior. In 2014, Commissioner Adam Silver banned Clippers owner Donald Sterling for life from the NBA after he made racist comments. At the 2016 ESPY award show, Lebron James, Chris Paul, Carmelo Anthony, and Dwyane Wade opened with a speech about police killing unarmed blacks and systemic racism, the same exact issues we are facing right now. In 2018, Lebron opened his "I Promise" school for at-risk children. Players have been outspoken on social media for the last few years and now, with all the protesting, they are speaking out by leading thousands upon thousands of protesters down the streets of America.
This history of outspokenness for the black community and against the oppression they face is what sets the NBA apart from all other major sports leagues, and is why they are a major piece to this puzzle.
The situation is this: The United States is a house and in one locked room are all black men and women. On the outside looking in through a peephole is the public. Like carbon monoxide, police brutality and racism seep in through the vent of injustice, slowly killing these unarmed black men and women without a way for them to stop it. For years, they've cried out: "We can't breathe!" For the most part, their cries have fallen on deaf ears. Now, the video of the murder of George Floyd has turned the peephole into a sizeable gash, giving more insight into what's going on. The NBA is standing outside the door with a hammer, and if they play their cards right, they can break open the door and finally begin to rescue the trapped people.
When the NBA comes back in July, it will be at the forefront of entertainment and all eyes will be on Orlando. There is no better time than now for an already progressive sports league to be given center stage. The players will be able to speak out to the millions of people watching as the season unfolds. The league could even put a BLM patch on all the jerseys or even replace the names on the back of each jersey with the name of one of the unarmed black people killed due to the systemic racism in this country.
Another advantage they gain by the timing of their return is when the season ends. The season is scheduled to end a month before the election when a whole new generation of young people can finally cast their ballot. Lebron James has already started a nonprofit along with his partner Maverick Carter to help fight voter suppression.
Between keeping progressive dialogue alive and encouraging Americans to go to the polls in November, the opportunity to inspire change is plentiful, and the NBA is the perfect entity to do it.
