Racial Injustice is a huge constant in society and the NBA and their players are spreading their own feelings towards it.
The National Basketball Association is continuously spreading awareness for racial injustice occurring in the United States of America. The NBA was shortened due to COVID. Now they were able to proceed playing due to the their newly created “bubble”. The bubble is at the ESPN Worldwide of Sports in Orlando Florida. The bubble consists of NBA players being constantly tested for COVID-19. They are issued their own rooms and are able to have contact with only their team doing a multitude of activities but are required to wear a mask around the facility. The NBA is the second sport to do this and see zero positive COVID tests, only being the Women’s National Basketball Association.
During the games the NBA players have been dealing with trying to express how they feel on the recent action that happen in the United States before the bubble. The biggest event that made them continually ask for racial injustice awareness was the killing of George Floyd. A lot of the NBA players felt they are on the biggest platform and need to strike while the iron is hot. Adam Silver commissioner of the NBA said, “I spent the weekend watching the protests around the country over the deaths of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery and Breonna Taylor. As a league, we share the outrage and offer our sincere condolences to their families and friends. Just as we are fighting a pandemic, which is impacting communities and people of color more than anyone else, we are being reminded that there are wounds in our country that have never healed.” A lot of the NBA players provided their own words backing up the commissioner due to him being the official face of the NBA and knowing what is going on is not right and shouldn’t happen. Due to these words of Adam Silver the players decided on ways they could create an impact on the biggest platform in the world.
First, they decided to take a knee when the National Anthem is being played before the game. They felt in doing this that the unity of the players and coaches, of all colors, will show that we can all be as one and continually show the love in this world is not rotten and has a chance of becoming something big over recent events. As Lebron James said, “The game of basketball has always been bigger than just the ball, the rim, 10 guys on the floor and referees. It’s an opportunity to use this platform to spread a lot of positivity and love throughout the whole world.” They have been all over social media spreading their word and embracing change.
Second, the players decided to add something they feel is the most important statement on the back of their jerseys. Some saying, “Black Lives Matter” or “Vote.” Doing this was giving the public a constant image of what should change in society from the recent events. Adam Silver said, “The league and the players are uniquely positioned to have a direct impact on combating systemic racism in our country, and we are committed to collective action to build a more equal and just society.” This provided the NBA to feel connected and provide them to not be scared on speaking what they feel on the situation and what actions they continue to provide in the nations eye.
Lastly, they were able to make the commercials between the time of gameplay about the difference the NBA is making. Big time brands created commercials on everyone standing together to be a unit and make an impact in society. One of the biggest companies that created a commercial was Sprite that showed African Americans coming as one and continually being together and showing love throughout the different races in the world. Their message was to keep the love from those different color than you. These constant actions that are always in the eyes of the public will make an impact and shine a light on what needs to be figured out throughout society.
https://www.nba.com/article/2020/07/03/nba-union-approve-social-justice-messages-jerseys
https://www.nba.com/article/2020/05/31/nba-teams-respond-tragic-death-george-floyd