Over the past couple of months, activists around the country have cried out against the racial injustices in America today. In spite of this, there have been little concrete actions taken against these injustices. And, unfortunately, police shootings of Black Americans have continued even after the outcry following Geroge Floyd. In response, on August 26th, the Milwaukee Bucks took a united stand against these racial injustices by refusing to play in Game 5 of their 2020 season. They led the charge, and many NBA teams across the country followed suit.
This is not the first time that basketball players have used their platform to raise awareness about political issues in America, however, the effect of this boycott rippled through the NBA and beyond. On Wednesday, August 26th, all Game 5 games were postponed. Once the Bucks refused to play, so did the Lakers, the Oklahoma City Thunder, and many other major league teams outside of basketball. In response to this boycott, the Lakers stated that they had to take a stand because over 80% of NBA players are Black men. If they didn’t use their massive platform to advocate for racial rights, they could not adequately support their community. August 26th became a day of reflection.
Before the season even started, players were concerned that resuming the NBA season would take away from important racial issues. They feared the names of George Floyd, Brianna Taylor, and Ahmaud Abrey would be lost in the midst of basketball. Players wanted to cancel the entire season, and following this boycott, a few wanted to leave the NBA entirely. Instead, they used their massive platform to amplify important racial justice messages. Here is a piece of the Buck’s statement following the boycott:
“We are calling for justice for Jacob Blake and demand for the officers to be held accountable. For this to occur, it is imperative for the Wisconsin state legislature to reconvene after months of inaction and take up meaningful measures to address issues of police accountability, brutality, and criminal justice reform. We encourage all citizens to educate themselves, take peaceful and responsible action, and remember to vote on Nov. 3.”
As a powerful platform in America, these players decided to take a stand, make demands, and stop dribbling to reflect. Yes, they made a political statement. But as an organization that is composed of majority Black men, how could they not? They recognized that in American today, it doesn’t matter whether you are a famous basketball player or a father walking to his car, if you are a Black man, you are a target.
The boycott had a mixed response within the American public. Many political leaders in the White House were upset with the fact that an entertainment platform would so blatantly call out their lack of response to these issues. President Donald Trump even claimed that “ [the NBA has] become like a political organization and that’s not a good thing.” However, some politicians did commend the NBA for weighing in on these issues. In support, Joe Biden tweeted, “This moment demands moral leadership, and these players answered by standing up, speaking out, and using their platform for good. Now is not the time for silence.” And as Lebron James stated in an interview in February of 2020, “[they] will definitely not shut up and dribble.” They will continue to advocate for political issues and use their influence to create a positive impact.
We thank the Bucks for leading the charge of August 26th. Due to this response, the NBA will modify arenas into voting locations on November 3rd, and the NBA will form a social-justice coalition to promote voting and advocate for social justice reform. The playoffs have continued, but the fight is not over! These professionals have demonstrated what it means to use their platform for the greater good, even if it hurts their own careers. They are calling us to do the same. Let’s listen to this call to action and remember to vote on November 3rd!
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