After the #DamarHamlin incident, the conversation around CPR training and AED access is important.
But we can't sidestep some hard truths.
America is addicted to this violent and brutal game. And the @NFL has repeatedly shown that does not care about Black players' health.
But we can't sidestep some hard truths.
America is addicted to this violent and brutal game. And the @NFL has repeatedly shown that does not care about Black players' health.
"Why do you have to bring race into it?"
70% of the NFL's players are Black. There are only five Black coaches, and no Black team owners. We watch these men destroy their bodies every week for our entertainment.
nytimes.com/2022/02/09/lea….
70% of the NFL's players are Black. There are only five Black coaches, and no Black team owners. We watch these men destroy their bodies every week for our entertainment.
nytimes.com/2022/02/09/lea….
So... will this moment be one in which we push for football to be safer? To pressure the @NFL to make the game less brutal for its players?
We will see.
We will see.
"Just send thoughts and prayers!" "This man has brought us together"
From sports to guns, to policing, Americans love trying to appeal to the divine and to some weird notion of "unity" to avoid any discussions about the normalization of unnecessary violence in our society.
From sports to guns, to policing, Americans love trying to appeal to the divine and to some weird notion of "unity" to avoid any discussions about the normalization of unnecessary violence in our society.
And it's not just the NFL.
College football players, who are also majority Black, put their lives on the line for no pay. The *tens of billions* of dollars in revenue they bring to the schools go to support non-revenue sports that white students play:
insight.kellogg.northwestern.edu/article/colleg…
College football players, who are also majority Black, put their lives on the line for no pay. The *tens of billions* of dollars in revenue they bring to the schools go to support non-revenue sports that white students play:
insight.kellogg.northwestern.edu/article/colleg…
Despite all the research on CTE and early deaths, Americans hate feeling bad about their favorite bloodsport.
And they *really* don't want to feel bad about a bloodsport that exploits Black athletes and makes them play for free in college before joining the big leagues.
And they *really* don't want to feel bad about a bloodsport that exploits Black athletes and makes them play for free in college before joining the big leagues.
Anyway, the NFL doesn’t want us talking about any of these things-player safety, race and inequalities.
A month will pass, the Super Bowl will be here, Rihanna will dazzle us with her Halftime show…
And the football machine will keep on rolling.
A month will pass, the Super Bowl will be here, Rihanna will dazzle us with her Halftime show…
And the football machine will keep on rolling.
• • •
Missing some Tweet in this thread? You can try to
force a refresh
