The NFL season begins in 13 days. A question arose as to whether some players would refuse to play.
Jim Trotter of NFL Media reports that “[a] some prominent black players tell me they want to sit down to a game to make their feelings felt and force change / action.
Trotter adds that the players are “tired, frustrated and emotional”. And while it’s only a few players so far, that could change.
Another video showing excessive police violence against a minority could easily make a difference. The NFL’s response to Jacob Blake’s situation could make a difference. For individual teams, feeling like ownership isn’t doing enough can make a difference.
There could be significant potential consequences for what would amount to a wild strike, whether thrown by a handful of players or entire teams. The players, at the moment, don’t seem to care. Also, it would be improper for the NFL or its teams to take legal action against players who decide not to play in order to draw more attention to broader societal issues.
Perhaps the best approach would be to play games, using the platform to send clear messages before, after and during games that both raise awareness and call for specific changes. At some point, however, gamers will naturally be exasperated by the perception / reality that no one seems to be listening to.
We all need to listen. And we must all ignore the voices that would rather ignore the current situation. Whether it’s the fans who can’t or won’t understand the issues or the media looking to take advantage of an angry minority of white Americans in clicks and views and ultimately in wealth and fame (or at least in notoriety), those who understand the difference between good and evil. must remain resolutely within the law and bear the implacable contempt of those who oppose true equality as a sign of honor.
