Len Elmore

Every athlete, particularly black athletes ought to remember the date: June 4, 1967. On that date, a group of African American athletes gathered to support Muhammad Ali and his fight for conscientious objector status during the Vietnam war draft. In that meeting, organized by Jim Brown, Kareem Abdul Jabbar (then known as Lew Alcindor) Bill Russell and several other prominent star black athletes from a variety of sports gathered to show solidarity for Ali as well as make a statement about civil rights in America. Their presence help galvanize many young athletes like myself in an effort to become aware and become outspoken for racial justice.

I was a ninth-grader then, coming of age and entering black manhood. Then, and as I marched forward into high school, I devoured everything relevant to the struggle from Dr. King's "Letter From a Birmingham Jail" to Alex Haley's The Autobiography of Malcolm X. I was just a novice basketball and baseball player yet the experience of seeing my heroes gather for something vital and important and having nothing to do with sports, made an indelible mark on me that lasts to this day.

I wish that there was a similar defining moment for today's black athlete. During the in-custody killing of Eric Garner or the turmoil and strife in Ferguson, MO, I remain incredulous that no similar black athlete voice has been heard. This is more real than the racist musings of an incapacitated NBA owner. Michael Brown's killing is an occurrence that has and will continue to have profound community impact. The issues in Ferguson touch every black male, particularly young black males across the nation. How many black male athletes have had confrontations with the police? In the present, it was Michael Brown or Eric Garner. It could be a black athlete, his father, brother or son tomorrow. Where is their outrage? Where are their voices?

When Donald Sterling uttered his infamous rant, there was no shortage of NBA athlete outrage and boycott threats. Visible players like LeBron James and Chris Paul passionately voiced their displeasure with Sterling and his racism. But that was an easy one. In that instance there was no wrong side to be on. There would be no marketing and sponsorship fears and no worries about league disagreement. Fans of the sport would not begrudge the players' position.

I believe that a big reason for the silence is the lack of a connection to history by many, not all. Sure, young black athletes understand African Americans' enduring struggle for racial justice. But for the most part, financial comfort, purposeful isolation from the real world and, dare I say it, incomplete educations for many have effectively muzzled any articulation of the seminal issues and the players' positions on them. But isn't that is where their protectors, their players' associations, ought to come in?

Part of the union charge is to help promote a positive image for their members and to defend their members' image. Where is that leadership now? They must guide their constituency forward. Players do wonderful things for charities like accepting ice bucket challenges and wearing colors representing various causes. Yet, no collective outcry has been mounted in a controversy that has, can and someday, will hit home for some.

Certainly, black athlete opinion is not monolithic. Standing for justice in Ferguson, Missouri or Staten Island, NY would not render black athletes anti-police. They know that the police overwhelmingly consists of even-handed and fair-minded men and women who do their jobs properly and justly. However, a small minority of rogues exist in any police force and when young black men are their targets, viewed as suspects rather than citizens, none can feel entirely safe, no matter his status.

The same community that spawned, nurtured and supports black athletes, now needs their heroes and their voices. It can be police injustice, gang violence or childhood obesity. Whatever obstacle facing young people in the community, the idolized athlete ought to be right there, lending at least a voice as part of the solution.

Len Elmore is a lawyer, a ten-year NBA and ABA veteran, and currently a college basketball announcer for ESPN and CBS

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