This year’s ESPY awards featured many common themes: a lot great looking bodies, gorgeous suits and dresses and an overwhelming amount of social activism from household athletic names and various awards recipients. Breanna Stewart, WNBA top overall draft pick and winner of the Female Athlete of the Year ESPY, called for equality for female athletes both in the media and in the checkbooks. While NBA stars Carmelo Anthony, LeBron James, Dwayne Wade and Chris Paul opened the show with a powerful message on Black Lives Matter and a tribute to those recently lost.

In the days following the annual awards show, a lot of conversation about the role of athletes in social activism arose. Some praised these athletes for using their influence and the platform they were given to promote the betterment of society. While others criticized ESPN and the individual athletes claiming that ESPN and the Disney networks were biased against conservative political views. Due to the great attention these small and short moments of activism received I think there is a great opportunity for athletes to be involved in social change and to have a drastic impact on the shaping of societal conversations about difficult topics such as race relations, gender inequality and the many other social ills that plague our contemporary society.

First and foremost, we must remember that athletes are human beings and members of society just like everyone else -- although at times on the field, court or in the pool they may seem superhuman to us. Like the majority of citizens, these men and women have opinions on things happening in society and possibly even have the desire to speak out in the hopes of changing things they do not like or agree with. As seen with everyday citizens, some athletes prefer to speak out while others chose to keep their beliefs and values to themselves. Both of these are valid choices, whether they are made by a schoolteacher or by a star quarterback.

I do believe that athletes should use their power and influence to create change in communities throughout our nation. However, if they choose to do so it should come from a place of caring and be driven by a desire to make society better for all. It should not be done for publicity or because it is suggested by their agent. LeBron James called for professional athletes to first educate themselves on social issues and then use their influence to affect change. This is the way that we all must go about social activism, whole-heartedly and with a strong urge to create a change in the status quo.

While professional athletes have a great deal of influence in society—that’s why we see them on so many television ads (Brita water filters Steph Curry, really?)—it is not on them alone to make changes in society. We must all do our part in supporting causes that we feel strongly about and supporting role models who stand for represent the values we hold dear. As Breanna Stewart said in her acceptance speech “equality for all takes each of us making an effort.”