The NBA – Leading from the Front
According to BET and CNN, at the urging of the National Basketball Players Association (NBPA) and the leadership of the NBPA Executive Committee, the players and league of the National Basketball Association (NBA) have embraced their national and global platform for social justice and civic awareness. Amid the NBA restart of the historic 2019-2020 season, with, the players and league stood, knelt used terms of equity on the back of their jerseys, and a Black Lives Matters mural on the court—using their celebrity voices openly supporting the Black Lives Matter movement. They have spoken out against police brutality and the killing of unarmed Black men and women in the United States.
On one of the biggest nights of the 2021 season, NBA All-Star Weekend, the Players Association paid tribute to Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). Not only was homage paid to players who graduated from an HBCU but they also honored current HBCU students. They spoke about the impact HBCU institutions have on their students, the country, and the world. During All Star weekend, current students were given opportunities to showcase their artistic talents with the graphic designs and marching bands performances. In a video montage, alumni, voices shared the power their HBCU had on them and the professional, global citizen, and person they have become. Additionally, in keeping with a new tradition of the NBA All-Star game, the NBA made charitable contributions to two organizations based on the performance of players during the game. This season, with the overarching theme of raising awareness and honor to HBCUs, several players independently funded scholarships for current students while the NBA made substantial contributions to the Thurgood Marshall College Fund and the United Negro College Fund (UNCF), both organizations that focus their service and contributions on HBCUs. For further details on the HBCU elements featured and included in the All-Star 2021 Game click here.
The military – among other entities – uses the adage, “lead from the front.” The NBA, with impetus from the Players Association, has been leading from the front, not just during these last two seasons but overtime. Individually, Elgin Baylor, Bill Russell, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Isiah Thomas, and Wes Unseld engaged in social activism during their time as NBA players. And now NBA players and the NBA as a whole have increasingly engaged in social activism for the benefit of all, demonstrating how individuals and organizations Lead From The Front. Leading the sports world by doing things to bring awareness and benefits to offset some racist and violent problems of this country. Kudos to the NBA and its players!
#NBA #NBA2K21 #HBCU #uncf #tmcf #vutech #ChangingOne #leadingfromthefront
