A group of NFL players — many of them some of the biggest stars — put together an incredible video released on Thursday night in which they called for the league to say, among other things, that it “condemn(s) racism and systematic oppression” and that the NFL believes Black Lives Matter.
The league responded on Instagram: “We stand with the black community because Black Lives Matter. Through Inspire Change, the NFL, Players and our partners have supported programs and initiatives throughout the country to address systemic racism,” it read, in part, going on to mention the additional $20 million it’s committing toward that program.
It’s one box checked with the declaration that Black Lives Matter. But as free-agent safety Eric Reid — who knelt with Colin Kaepernick when they were 49ers teammates — said on Twitter, it’s far from enough:
Where do I start? In your self reflection you chose to tell us that you donated .00275% of your 2019 revenue of roughly $16B to the causes you care so deeply for. Yet you have not denounced the police 4 their history of murder nor have you addressed your own oppressive constructs https://t.co/VyUl2JM3xR
— Eric Reid (@E_Reid35) June 5, 2020
In your self reflection, you didn’t come 2 the conclusion 2 apologize for your numerous attempts 2 subvert the very movement that you now claim 2 be a part of, including but not limited to: breaking your own protocols in an attempt to force us from kneeling and blackballing Colin
— Eric Reid (@E_Reid35) June 5, 2020
In your self reflection, you didn’t feel the need to reconcile your aforementioned actions. You aren’t trying to change the system. You are the system.
— Eric Reid (@E_Reid35) June 5, 2020
Let’s go back to what the players in the video called for.
#StrongerTogether pic.twitter.com/JkIyTfwgJ4
— Tyrann Mathieu (@Mathieu_Era) June 5, 2020
There are no words condemning racism and systematic oppression. No admitting of silencing Kaepernick and so many others who protested peacefully. The players challenged the league with the words they wanted to hear, and the NFL failed to say them.
It speaks volumes. Like with many of these statements from leagues, franchises and players who say they must “do better,” as we all hopefully learned in grade school, the actions must speak louder than the words.
If, as Reid says, the league isn’t going to repair its past actions, will the NFL do more going forward?
I keep thinking of the moment when NFL games are back in action and players could protest — as you saw in the video above, they asserted that right. How will owners respond? How will the league as a whole?
“We know that we can and need to do more,” the NFL stated in its Instagram post.
The words were not enough. The actions must be.
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