The Revolt of the Black Athlete - The LaBron Firestorm

After Jackie Robinson integrated professional baseball there was Juan
Carlos and Tommie Smith raising their fists on the winner's podium and
then Muhammad Ali refused to register for the draft and many many
more...

I provide you all with this historical reflection of what we sport
scholars term "Revolt of the Black Athlete" to serve as examples that
Black male athletes have galvanized their activist selves in moments
of proof and purpose. While Black male athletes have consistently
bore the burden of public scruitnity over their lack of social
responsibility, I have always harbored a clear understanding and
hidden hope that when given a reason they would rise again.

When LaBron took his professional basketball career out of the control
of the fans, coaches, teammates, agents, and team owners he declared
loud and clear that he was reclaiming his inner activist. I am sure
LaBron, as did, Muhammad Ali, Jackie Robinson, Jim Brown and many
others resist the notion of being termed an "activist", but when you
make a conscious decision to reject the systematic oppression by a
group of people you are in fact an activist. And as sure as LaBron
made that conscious decision, I would be willing to bet David Stern
organized a special meeting at the most centrally located strip club,
lit up a cigar, kicked back and said to a select group of men "Ah shit
this boy here done got us in some shit!". At that moment, they all
simultaneously looked at each other and without saying a word knew
that LaBron would not be the last.



Let us be clear. While we can rejoice in the fact that this could be
the Black Male athlete's transition to the Emersion-Immersion phase,
there will surely be backlash. How this backlash will manifest itself
is unknown, but there is sure to be resistance from the well oiled
machine that we know is the NBA. With LaBron they were thrown off,
but with the next they will be and are prepared.



So, I say good luck to them. I am encouraged that they will unify as
they have in the past. Our only responsibility as a Black community
is to continue to educate ourselves about the plight of the Black Male
Athlete, so that when we are called upon we can respond alongside
the them.