Should professional athletes, such as those in the National Basketball Association (NBA), continue playing their seasons or should they instead boycott the rest of the season to protest and bring greater attention to the racial issues, particularly police killing of black men, that plague our nation? Athletes, fans, and the nation as a whole are now struggling with this question. What is the best course of action to advance the cause of racial justice?
The NBA halted its 2020 season in March as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The League and the Player’s Association debated and negotiated whether they could resume the season safely. Eventually, it was agreed that the season would be restarted in a “bubble” at the Disney complex in Orlando. No fans would be present. The primary concern was whether spread of the virus could be prevented in the bubble environment.
The return was remarkably successful. No players, coaches, or other team personnel tested positive for the virus. Broadcasters. reporters, and others present also tested negative. Mask wearing and appropriate social distancing when players weren’t on the court were practiced. The League’s success in returning to play without the virus spreading had the additional benefit of demonstrating that the virus could be contained if appropriate safety measures were adopted, enforced, and followed.
But then the ugly head of systematic racism and police brutality against black men resurfaced. In Kenosha, Wisconsin, Jacob Blake was shot seven times in the back by a white police officer. Blake had failed to follow police orders. Blake had recently had an encounter with police in a domestic abuse situation. Blake disobeyed police commands, went to his car, opened the door, and reached into the car. As an officer pulled on Blake’s t-shirt, he shot Blake seven times in the back. It is alleged there was a knife in the car.
How much officers knew about Blake’s recent encounter and whether they knew what he was reaching for is unclear. What is clear that shooting an individual seven times in the back at close range is excessive and unnecessary; regardless whether that individual has failed to follow commands or not. Also, it is a sad continuation of encounters of black man with police that escalate and turn violent, usually resulting in the injury or death of the black man? So what are NBA players to do?
Another intent of restarting the NBA season was to create a platform by which the cause of justice for black people and the issue of police misconduct could be better publicized. NBA courts had Black Lives Matter emblazoned on them. Players wore jerseys with social messages. Players and coaches talked about racial injustice and police brutality in interviews, both before and after games. Playing in the bubble, it was felt, would better able players to get out the message of their concern for justice for blacks and to bring an end to police misconduct.
The shooting of Jacob Blake has called all this into question. Has there really been much positive effect from the NBA in playing these games, other than to create a way to distract ourselves and give us a break from the seemly unending trials of our times? Is this distraction now counter-productive in trying to actually bring about the necessary change in our nation?
NBA players, and athletes in other sports, are faced with a difficult choice. How can we better promote the cause of racial justice and police reform in our country; by continuing or not continuing to play? Some feel that is time to end the bubble; to let the players go home to their communities and to become more directly involved in the fight for racial justice. To force sports leagues and the billionaire owners to suffer financial consequences of not playing so that, hopefully, they will become more outspoken in their demands for change and accountability. It is also contended that that players themselves cannot focus on a basketball game when so much is at stake and so much change needs to occur.
Others feel that once the bubble is gone, players will lose an important platform by which the message of racial justice can be promoted. That the benefits of the platform outweigh the distraction basketball creates for fans. That players can be more effective in calling for and bringing about change from inside the bubble than from outside.
These are difficult times. There are no easy answers.
Do you think professional athletes should continue to play or do you believe they should boycott the remainder of their seasons?
