Why Is It That LeBron James, Steph Curry, Colin Kaepernick, and Other Black Players Haven’t Left…

Summary

The article discusses the lack of Black ownership in professional sports leagues, despite the significant contributions of Black athletes to the industry.

Abstract

The author of the article raises a critical question about the absence of Black ownership in major sports leagues like the NBA and NFL, despite the fact that these leagues profit immensely from the labor and talent of Black players. The piece draws attention to the historical exploitation of Black labor as a foundational element of American wealth, as detailed in works like "The 40 Million Dollar Slaves" and "Black Labor, White Wealth." It praises Ice Cube's Big 3 league as a rare example of Black-owned sports enterprise and critiques the power dynamics that leave Black athletes as employees rather than owners. The article also touches on Colin Kaepernick's conflict with the NFL, emphasizing the importance of owning rather than merely participating in these lucrative sports industries.

Opinions

The author admires Ice Cube's initiative in creating the Big 3 league, viewing it as a positive step towards Black economic empowerment in sports.
There is a clear acknowledgment that the wealth of America, including its sports leagues, has been built on the labor of Black individuals, who have not proportionally benefited from this economic foundation.
The article suggests that Black athletes, like Colin Kaepernick, are at the mercy of white-owned leagues, which can exclude them for personal stances, highlighting the need for Black-owned sports leagues.
The author believes that America continues to profit significantly from Black labor, with professional athletes being a prime example.
The piece argues that in the context of professional sports, Black athletes should aspire to create and own their own leagues rather than solely working within established, white-owned structures.
The author expresses a personal view that when in "someone else's house," one must abide by their rules, which in the case of the NFL, meant accepting their decision to effectively ban Colin Kaepernick for his protests.

Why Is It That LeBron James, Steph Curry, Colin Kaepernick, and Other Black Players Haven’t Left The NBA and NFL and Started Their Own Sports League

Go read The 40 Million Dollar Slaves

Photo by Jim Poorten/NBAE via Getty Images

Have you ever wondered why Black people never owned a professional sports league? Have you ever kind of sat back and said “Hmm, I wonder why white people own all the important economic assets in this country?” You know, maybe we can do more, maybe we can own more, maybe we create me in things like sports. It’s something that has popped in my mind from time to time. The NBA Christmas games are coming up and the NBA and major television networks are going to rank in millions of dollars — Black people don’t own the networks or the league.

Black labor has been the foundation in most of the wealth that exist in America. Your labor, your talent, and your skill has been the thing that has helped people get rich and make money. This is why I salute and respect a man like Ice Cube. Ice Cube owns a professional sports league called the Big 3 and I think it’s a good start. But I find it fascinating that he’s kind of the lone ranger when it comes to this Black independent mindset in terms of creating a sports league that is owned by Black people. If you look at books like Black Labor, White Wealth by Dr. Claud Anderson, you’ll find that a lot of the economic prowess of the United States of America was built on Black labor and Black talent. That Black people, without your hard work, without your labor, without your ancestors, America couldn’t be what it is right now. Now, what happens is that America is full of interesting traditions and one of those traditions is that America still makes a big trunk of its wealth off the labor of Black people. When you talk about professional athletes, you're talking about people who do well, they make money, but, ultimately, we know where the bulk of the wealth and power comes from.

Take Colin Kaepernick for example. He’s been shunned by the NFL for about five years now ever since his 2016 “take a knee” protest of the National Anthem. Now let me make this clear: I like Colin Kaepernick. I like what he stands for and I’m rooting for the brother. But what I can’t understand is the nature of the labor dispute between him and the NFL — an employee fought with his boss because his boss fired him. After all, he took a stance on a personal issue. But in my opinion, when you are in someone’s house, you have to follow their rules. It’s just that simple. Some people might be upset with me saying this but if the NFL doesn’t want Colin in their house, they have a right to kick him out. If I’m lying or full of crap, ask yourself this: Would you allow someone tot live in your home if they didn’t do what you wanted them to do? If they didn’t respect you? If they didn’t follow your rules? I don’t think you wouldn’t. Now, I don’t agree that they should have kicked Colin out — unofficially might I add. Everyone should have the right to stand or not stand for the National Anthem, but again, it’s their house and their rules.

“So what’s the answer then, Jaron?” You maybe asking. It’s simple. Build your own damn house!

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