Decent people across the country, including yours truly, have been dismayed by the blatant rise of racism in our country the last ten years. We knew racism hadn't been extinguished, but great inroads had been made in racial equality since the days of Jim Crowe—the shameful days of burning crosses, weekly lynchings, poll taxes, church bombings and voter nullification. After all we had come so far that an exceptional African American man had been elected President of the United States, the de-facto leader of the free world.
But latent, lying below the surface like a festering boil, racism waited for the opportunity to rear its ugly head. Unfortunately, that opportunity and the crowning achievement of equality for all were one and the same—the election of President Barack Obama. I won't go into the assists racism has had from right wing media institutions like Fox News and (hate) talk radio. Or the many blogs and websites that spew virulent racism. We all know and loath them.
No, I'm looking for answers, not blame. We can't keep wringing our hands in dismay every time some renegade cop shoots to kill (whatever happened to shoot to wound) and executes another usually black male victim. Something needs to be done, but how do you fight an idea? An idea of superiority of one group and inferiority of another group, despite all the evidence to the contrary. An idea that is so imbued in the minds of so many people, that Republicans were able to elect a lying, unqualified, unfit, obviously prejudiced POTUS, retain control over the Congress, and get some really bad Governors reelected in the 2016 election despite a steadily growing economy, reduced unemployment, a record stock market and a deficit of less than half of what it was when Obama took over as President.
At this point I have to say the Republicans Party is the refuge of most racists and bigots. If there are non-racists elements in the Republican Party, they were remarkable in their silence while their party surreptitiously agreed to filibuster and block as much of President Obama's agenda as they could. They were also remarkable in their ability to turn the many successes of the President and the Democratic Party into failures in the minds of so many misinformed voters.
So how do you change the mindset of such a large segment of the population? From the experience of President Obama and others, it's obvious that being nice to racists doesn't work. However, I have an idea that might work. In fact I think it would work. African America can fight back with one of their greatest gifts of talent—Black Athletes. Let me explain.
(Since my last update we've had another election and thank God, Democrats gained control of the House of Representatives, several important Governorships and enough State legislatures to put Democrats back in the ballgame.)
So now it's time to go on offense.
Over half of the nations current top 20 college football teams hail from states that passed laws creating voter suppression, including eight of the top ten—Alabama, Clemson, Michigan, Georgia, Oklahoma, Louisiana State, Central Florida and Ohio State. Rounding out the Top Twenty are Florida, Texas, Penn State, Kentucky and Mississippi State. That's 65% of Top 20 teams. Imagine what would happen to these states sports programs if the coveted, blue chip black athletes (and other progressive athletes) they count on getting each year rejected schools in racist (voter suppression) states and instead signed letters of intent with alternate competing schools in non racist states–states like New Jersey, Maryland, Minnesota, Washington Colorado, California, New York etc. They'd be tickled silly to take these recruits away from perennial football powers like Alabama or Texas.
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Black Football Players Like these Dominate College and Pro Football
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Without prime black recruits, Alabama, Clemson, Georgia etc. would no longer be in the top ten. They probably wouldn't be in the top twenty-five. Coaches would go ballistic and so would fans. I can see where they might even beg Governors and lawmakers to rescind voter suppression laws in their states. If that didn't work maybe they might vote them out of office. Blue chip athletes are in such demand that they might have as many ten full scholarship offers including offers from the likes of Stanford, Oklahoma, So, Cal, UCLA, Boston Coll. etc Can you picture Harvard, Northwestern or Georgetown in the top twenty-five. Or even No 1. It’s possible.
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Black Athletes Dominate College and Pro Basketball even more.
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Obviously basketball would be another prime sport to boycott racist states, but other sports might work as well (track and field, baseball?).
Women's programs too. After all there's been a bevy of states passing regressive women's health laws in addition to Voter Suppression.
The point is there has to be a downside to being racist and so far there hasn't been one. I know that a Black athletic boycott wouldn't affect all racists. What would? But I'll bet it would affect millions of racists in boycotted states and make non-racist states think twice before proposing voter suppression, gerrymandering or other sham laws. In addition, I think this would be better for the athletes themselves, going to college where they are looked upon as equals and not second and third class citizens. Don't you?