The Blue Tsunami that tore through the U.S. on Tuesday night was a clear sign that the country demands new leadership and change.
And when the slew of Democrats take office next year and start to work for the people who elected them, there is one group they need to pay particular attention to for it has been ignored for far too long.
Black athletes, particularly young ones.
Over the past few months, we have watched Mike Tyson, Floyd Mayweather Jr., Todd Gurley II and and Marlon Humphrey bend the knee to support Tr**p, a man who has unapologetically attacked those who share the same melanin as those athletes.
And those are just the ones bold enough to publicly demonstrate their support for a man who accused Black people of aiming to “steal your money for reparations,” and whose policies have directed contributed to 600,000 Black women becoming jobless.
Unfortunately, money has blinded far too many Black athletes into recognizing the harm Tr**p does and they continue to be enamored by his celebrity.
But now is the time for Democrats to reach and engage with Black athletes.
No longer can we afford to let them be victims of the brainwashing, “smile in your face but stab you in the back” politics and straight up lies that have lured them to support people who care nothing for them except to exploit their celebrity.
And it’s even more crucial that the outreach is directed towards the younger generation of Black athletes.
They have been recruited and used for their athletic talents and influence, and with the legalization of NIL and the continued evolution of college sports, the money they’re exposed to continues to grow. While that’s great for their financial futures, it comes at the cost of education, self-awareness, history and reality.
AAU ball, sports camps and big high school programs have become bigger considerations for families, and financial literacy programs are now complementing these programs as well.
That education is essential, for we’ve witnessed the horror stories of athletes wasting their money during their careers.
Yet these athletes, and so many others, are no longer taught civics, history or other courses that foster awareness and develop critical thinking skills.
Indianapolis Colts DB Sauce Gardner is proof of that.
In 2024, after the assassination attempt on Tr**p, Sauce displayed his ignorance for all to see.
“In all honesty, I never voted before and am unfamiliar with politics, but I do think it’s odd to judge people based on who they vote for. Maybe it’s not odd and I just don’t understand because I’m not familiar with it. Somebody fill me in,” posted Sauce on X.
Knowing that he was 24 at the time and said he had never voted before is a sad thing and reflective of too many.
But all is not lost.
Many college and pro athletes have used their NIL funds and salaries, respectively, to benefit families and communities in need.
And in 2024, Kamala Harris formally engaged athletes, so the foundation and pathway is there.
