The NBA had suspended its season and New York Knicks striker Moe Harkless was trying to think about what he could do to help as COVID-19 seized the world.
“In the beginning, it was difficult for me,” Harkless told USA Sports TODAY. “I was struggling. I wanted to do something, but I didn’t know what to do. Many things were happening. It was an emotional moment. Once I was able to gather my feelings and after talking to some people, I was able to channel everything I felt and use it to do something positive. “
Harkless likes good food, wine, collects art and listens to music. He realized that people in those industries were struggling, so he created a website dedicated to helping black-owned businesses in the catering, music, wine and book industries among other sectors.
Harkless’s website, moeharkless.com, has been turned into Black Lives Now and focuses on “all the things you need to know about supporting black lives and black culture in every aspect of your life.”
“Being at the service of other people. That’s really all that was behind it, ”said Harkless. “We thought about it a lot and wanted to get it out as quickly as possible.”
The site provides a link to Black’s owned restaurants in New York and Los Angeles, Black’s owned wineries, support for Black’s artists and musicians and writers. The site also offers a way for people to donate, register to vote and search for mental health resources.
“You hear a lot of people asking how they can help or what they can do and don’t know where to start,” said Harkless. “The website we created is a great place to start when you don’t know it.”
The adverts are immense. Harkless has published a spreadsheet for New York with 255 restaurants owned by Black, including a telephone number, address and website, if applicable. He has published contact information for 369 Los Angeles restaurants. He connected to the Vote.org page so that people can make sure they are registered or registered to vote. He also linked to a page with options to help in various ways, including making donations.
FIRST WEEK: Good, bad, indifferent to the opening of the NBA bubble
POWER RANKINGS: How the 22 teams of bubbles accumulate
“I just wanted to provide as many resources as possible,” said Harkless. “It has affected so many people. It is really unfortunate. Many closed companies are unlikely to reopen. If you have the means and the ability to support these companies – and some need them more than others – you should. This is one of the things we have tried to focus on, and the other way is donations, which only seek to help companies. These are just difficult times. “
While players within the NBA are spreading their message through press conferences, Harkless is trying to do his part while not playing.
“I see men who want to change by acting and putting themselves and everything they could lose for what they believe in,” he said.
For his next step, Harkless said he wanted to interact with the kids “to help our next generation and also provide some resources for them. This is just the beginning. I’m not sure where it’s going, but we’re sure to continue building on it and making things happen.
Follow NBA reporter Jeff Zillgitt on Twitter @JeffZillgitt
