So, the time has come for the “normalcy” to return as many people keep calling for. We are about to have sports return, television networks filming shows for the fall and for some it couldn’t have come sooner, for others it’s returning at an opportune time. We are still in the middle of a burning hot pandemic, we have a civil rights movements underway and now we’re about to interject the world of sports back into the equation. Many have talked obsessively about the need for the sports professionals to come back and entertain us. Take our minds off the Coronavirus pandemic and the civil unrest that the Black community has undertaken to further our cause for equality. As we sit and wait for the leagues to determine if they will indeed be able to have a season, we are faced with answering the question of whether this will take our eyes off the health crisis and social crisis griping this country.

I have listened to both sides of the coin and I am honestly torn as to exactly how I feel. On the one hand as a fan, yes I want to see the sports world return. To have a reason to laugh loudly, trash talk playfully, watch attentively as my favorite players and teams vie for championships. But, on the other hand, I think about just how dangerous this virus is out here. How it’s hitting people regardless of stature. But how it is disproportionally hitting the Black community. Then too, it’s the protesting and unrest being displayed by black people trying to obtain equality. Trying to get the nation to change from the racist and bigoted ways of the past four hundred plus years. I wonder if this sports return will make some forget that we are still protesting in the streets. Still out pushing and lobbying for change in state legislatures and national legislatures.

I do think that the platform that many of the black athletes will have when they return to live national television, will possibly allow for us to have the conversation furthered to a degree that maybe it still isn’t being received currently. There is something powerful about the most influential athletes openly speaking and displaying the need for reforms. Primarily, because so many white people think that the more financially well off people speaking out makes a situation more important. Also, if these athletes take the position of the community organizers and emphasize more patronage of black business and boycotting those corporations who aren’t showing with actions that they support the cause, it will be more effective.

Yet, sometimes I also feel that it’s very sad and unfortunate that we can’t have regular people be the leaders of this movement. The catalyst can be regular people, but the ignitors have to be famous individuals. This is the unfortunate reality for the Black community but necessary for change to really take hold. Primarily because White America see money as the measure of power, and that’s why black people have to use our collective dollars to continue to hold accountable corporations and white people to ensure that we don’t allow this movement to end. The dichotomy is obvious and the movement taking place hopefully will work towards ending that making this a more fair, equal fight.