The “Out of Bounds” Movement Connects College Athletics, Politics and Economic Pressure in the Fight Over Representation
As we are all aware, the Supreme Court recently decided the case of Louisiana vs Callais, which has had a domino effect, especially in the state legislatures of states that were former members of the Confederacy, where they have hurried to redraw congressional maps, which will erase black Congressional representation.
A New Political and Economic Fight
Within a large number of those states are institutions of higher learning and are members of the Southeastern Conference, one of college athletics’ most powerful conferences, The SEC has sixteen member schools, which are found in nine states: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee and Texas.
Targeting the SEC’s Influence
We are focusing on this conference, as the NAACP has called for a national boycott of this collection of schools, as they are located in states that have decided that Black Representation is no longer valued or important. The boycott is named “Out of Bounds.”
The goal of the new movement follows a historical pattern of not being financial supporters when our political needs are not valued or considered of any importance. History reminds us of the Montgomery Bus Boycott, of 1955, in response to the city allowing segregated seating on city buses, which was ultimately ruled unconstitutional.
The conference’s revenue has been reported to have increased, due primarily to an increase in ticket sales, lucrative television contracts, media rights and corporate sponsorships. Growth is projected to reach $606 million, driven by new media deals and partnerships.
‘No Representation, No Recruitment, No Revenue’
The calls for incoming black student athletes would be to lend their support by addressing the meanings of: No Representation, No Recruitment, No Revenue. Where these things are occurring, you can make a difference by choosing another school and not allowing academic and athletic talents to be a means of support for disenfranchisement of black voters and the erasure of Black Representation.
Collectively, during the recruitment stages, these young athletes would benefit from these considerations:
What’s in my best interest? How will I have influence? What will be the impact?
Long-Term Impact Over Short-Term Reward
The value of long-term effects, as opposed to short-term reward can be motivation towards making a good decision that will have a lifelong impact, in many ways.
I am motivated to consider James Baldwin’s quote:
“Not everything that is faced can be changed, but nothing can be changed until it is faced.”
