While it is a rematch from Super Bowl LVII played two years ago, it remains historic that Black quarterbacks will start for their respective teams in this year’s game.
Jalen Hurts and the Philadelphia Eagles vs. Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs: Part II
While many conservative politicians are fixated on eliminating DEI initiatives and squelching conversations on race, Black people can’t be silent. In fact, we must be louder.
Support of Black achievers must be trumpeted throughout the U.S. Whether it be in business, politics, athletics or any other area.
Say it loud, you’re Black you’re proud. That’s what I do.
It’s important that the nation – and world – witness a pair of Black quarterbacks dueling in what will be the most-watched television event of the year. It’s an international stage where the leading men are Black – and so are most of the co-stars.
Why is this still important?
When Black players were first making the rosters of NFL teams, the positions that had the least amount of diversity were center, quarterback, running back and receiver.
What do those positions have in common? The players in these positions are most likely to touch the football during a game.
There were other drawbacks to being Black in the NFL.
Acclaimed sports columnist Bill Rhoden, who writes for ESPN’s Andscape webpage, shared the story of Bernie Parrish, “a white kid from Florida,” and Walter Beach, an African American from Michigan, in a 2011 New York Times column.
“When they joined the Cleveland Browns as cornerbacks in 1959 and 1960, the majority of cornerbacks were white. There were unwritten rules and practices designed to keep it that way,” wrote Rhoden
“We were still in that era of the quotas,” said the late Parrish.
“In 1959, I believe the quota of Black players was 7; then it went to 13.”
NFL owners also practiced the art of “stacking,” meaning that African American players competed for the same positions.
“There would be six or eight guys competing for my spot and nobody competing for his,” Beach, who is now 94, said of Parrish, who became his friend while with the Browns.
The day before Hurts and Mahomes won respective NFL and AFC Championships, Madison Keys won her first grand slam title, upsetting defending champion and world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka 6-3 2-6 7-5 in the Australian Open women’s final.
Like Mahomes, Keys has a Black father and a white mom. Mahomes identifies as a Black person, he wears his ethnicity with pride.
Keys, which is her right, has said in many past interviews that she doesn’t consider herself Black or white. “I’m just me,” is her answer.
Again, I’m not upset with her. If she doesn’t want to be Black, the feeling is mutual. I hope she isn’t also ignoring what many Black athletes endured to clear a path for today’s pro and college players of color – especially in tennis.
A lot of crazy “executive orders” have been signed during the past 10 days.
So, I’m issuing one of my own. It’s OK to discuss race and sports. It’s OK to discuss race and anything – and it doesn’t matter who doesn’t like it.
The Reid Roundup
What do LeBron James and St. Louisan Bradley Beal of the Phoenix Suns have in common? They are the only two NBA players with a no-trade clause in their respective contracts. The Suns can’t just trade him anywhere, Beal has to approve…Jimmy Butler’s insubordinate behavior in Miami is disgusting. The Heat star has been suspended twice for a total of eight games as he tries to clown his was into a trade to Phoenix…The top five NBA player jersey sales are Steph Curry, Lebron James, our own Jayson Tatum, Jalen Brunson and Victor Wembanyama…Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones interviewed Black candidates Robert Saleh and Leslie Frazier for its head coaching position. Kellen Moore, a former Cowboys offensive coordinator who holds the same position for the Super Bowl bound Philadelphia Eagles, was also interviewed. The Cowboys tabbed Brian Schottenheimer, promoting him from offensive coordinator to head coach. My Cowboys are a dumpster fire.