Photo Courtesy: Dallas Cowboys
FRISCO, TEXAS — Sports is often seen as an escape from mundane everyday lives and an embodiment of unity- teams working together for a common goal to win. In unprecedented times in the country, the same theme is true but organizations around the nation are fighting for victory on more than the outcome of a game. They are trying to combat racial injustice and systematic oppression.
Sports teams around the globe are conducting ongoing conversations on how to use their platforms to create change and move towards progress. For the Dallas Cowboys, a set solution has not been reached at this point but one thing is certain, the players want to be unified in their decision.
“ I think it’s very important for a team statement or response, “ cornerback Anthony Brown told media via conference call. “ That’s why I say we’re going to get in groups and decide what we all want to do together. We don’t want individual players putting out different things all at one time, so we want to be all on the same page and sound with what we say and do.”
The players want to form a collective decision that represents each player’s voice and unique life experiences. A harmonious message would resonate better than differing actions where the meaning is lost in conflict.
Offensive tackle Cam Erving described, “ We don’t want to come out with a bunch of different opinions and views because then the conversation gets skewed and people get off topic. It’s just important to really talk about the issues and be open and honest, everybody no matter what color you are. The biggest thing I can say is probably I have a bunch of friends of color: white friends, black friends, Hispanic. I play with everybody. And to hear those people when they hear something or see something that’s not right, speak up. Those are the things that speak volumes. You might see it in a small setting but those small interactions make a big difference in how people see things. “
In today’s climate, each player’s life journey and opinions will be different, but one thought is the same, it is time for change. Making a difference cannot be achieved through silence, but through open conversation and taking a walk in someone else’s shoes that may not look the same. That is the goal of Erving. For people to reach true acceptance of the world’s current state of racial injustice and to self-examine their hearts if indifferent.
“ Police brutality is something that has to be truly addressed. It doesn’t just need to be a headline for a few days and then it just goes away and things continue to be status quo. It has to be true change. Hopefully my words can help people who don’t understand to take a step or take a walk in my shoes. Like I said, you can feel how passionate I am about it. I want people to feel this. It’s just very important that we continue to have these conversations, because nothing is going to happen overnight if we don’t. I’ve been guilty of it at times, just like ‘Nothing I do is going to change it,’ or stuff like that. But in the climate that we’re in right now, we can’t continue to have that mindset. I’m just trying to get more educated on what’s going on and trying to be more proactive about things that happen. That’s a place to start for everybody- just being able to truly realize what’s happening.”
