On a night dedicated to awarding athletes and sport related figures for their achievements, bravery, and perseverance (bless Craig Sager for his bravery and continued fight to beat cancer), the scheduled ESPY awards started off on a momentous and real note.
With the help of NBA stars Lebron James, Carmelo Anthony, Dwayne Wade, and Chris Paul, they took it upon themselves to talk to their peers and bring light into the recent and tragic events that have happened in United States pertaining to the controversial shootings of black victims, by police officers. "The system is broken. The problems are not new. The violence is not new. And the racial divide definitely is not new. But the urgency to create change is at an all-time high," Carmelo Anthony stated. Change is exactly what America needs and who better to lead and become social activist than idolized and influential figures known as sport superstars.
Why now? Why the sudden urge of athletes needing to step in and become social activist for a just cause? As Dwayne Wade put it "Enough is enough," athletes have always known their power of influence they have amongst fans, whether that be on fashion, music or overall sense of taste; but, that power of influence has only been put to use on what shoes to wear and what charities to donate to (which is a great cause on its own), until recently. The tragic shootings that unfolded pushed athletes such as Lebron James, Chris Paul, Dwayne Wade, and Carmelo Anthony to their breaking point and created the need to take immediate action. The call for immediate action ultimately led to them combining forces and delivering the powerful and eye opening speech on ESPY night. A outcry to their fellow peers, to see the social responsibility that they have to embrace, as this is an issue they cannot watch aimlessly from the sideline.
The outcry for change on ESPY night sparked athletes from across the country to become social activist and use their power of influence to unite people. Kobe Bean Bryant (the Black Mamba), the man himself did not hesitate to use his power of influence to bring important people together to create change in the city he loves, Los Angeles.
We have @kobebryant convening a meeting w/ athletes, #BlackLivesMatter #LAPD, actors & activists in #LA to "unify movement & make change."
— Dave Zirin (@EdgeofSports) July 14, 2016
Who better to unite Los Angeles, than a man who has given so much to the city. A man who has brought people from all backgrounds together. A man who probably stopped crime and hate even if it was for one night on his last game (Shout out to those 60 memorable points Kobe). If any person can get the respect and attention out of your average person, it's Kobe Bean Bryant. Kobe like many athletes have embraced the tasks at hand and know that this goes bigger than any game or event they have played in.
Who stood before them? You may see the recent trend of athletes becoming social activist, but they are only merely following in the footsteps of legends who put their hall of fame careers on the line, to stand for something that would affect athletes in a positive way for generations to come. These legends are filled with the likes of Muhammad Ali, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Bill Russell, Jim Brown, and so many more. On June 4th of 1967, in a news press conference that took place in Cleveland Ohio (better known as the Ali Summit), they too made a stand to a controversial subject at the time, the war against Vietnam.
Athletes such as Bill Russell, Jim Brown and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (pictured above) stood with Muhammad Ali on his opposition to being inducted into a war he did not want to be apart of, nor thought the U.S should be apart of. This was a powerful moment in sports history as well as a critical moment in the civil rights movement, because for the first time numerous star athletes with everything to lose stepped out of their comfort zone to take a stance against a controversial subject, war. This stand would transcend the way people viewed athletes, they would now look at these men who could not only transform the game in their respected sports, but also change the future of the country into a more promising one.
No longer can athletes be known for just going to practice, hitting the gym, playing some games, and winning championships - they must be known for what they stand for, to what great lengths they are willing to use their power of influence in a positive way on social issues. As Spider-man's uncle Ben Parker put it, "with great power, comes great responsibility." That responsibility is set in front of them; on full display for America to see with the recency of tragic events and the millions of citizens waiting for a voice of reason, a voice of confidence, a voice of positivity on how we together will overcome this. Let that voice be the hundreds of athletes who have looked adversity straight in the eye and have said, we will not be denied. Here's an obstacle set before them, a obstacle bigger than them, a familiar obstacle, an obstacle dividing this country and lastly an obstacle not overcome alone. I have confidence that these athletes, can be the positive difference America needs more than ever.
I know as I look in the eyes of people, my peers, my friends, and my loved ones; I see defeat and the mentality that this barrier is impossible to beat, but I say nay. As one of my favorite athletes and social activist Muhammad Ali (the goat) said it best,
"Impossible is just a big word thrown around by small men who find it easier to live in the world they've been given than to explore the power they have to change it. Impossible is not a fact. It's an opinion. Impossible is not a declaration. It's a dare. Impossible is potential. Impossible is temporary. Impossible is nothing."
He is undoubtedly correct and just know with sheer will and determination, athletes from across the country are in this cause together; to eliminate the current social barrier, the current racial divide, and lastly to be no longer just athletes, but something bigger than themselves. The clock is ticking and this is not a fight we can afford to lose.
