Protesting During High School Sports?
Michael Hicks
I guide motivated individuals/couples achieve meaningful relationships, resilient mindsets, and personal growth through Liv2Thrive’s personalized coaching. 25+ years guiding transformations. DM “Thrive” or apply in bio.
I am asking you to weigh in on an important topic that has really been heavy on my heart recently. I am a high school teacher and girls’ varsity basketball coach in the inner city of Milwaukee coaching young impressionable African American girls. There has been a lot of gun violence, protests, racial inequities, poor reputation with police officers and African Americans being killed daily in our streets. With all that being said, I don’t know what I am supposed to do this season if I have a player that wants to silently protest all the racial inequities in our city/country during the National Anthem. (Colin Kaepernick) I honestly don’t know what to do because I want to support my players in every way I know how. Do I just allow the protest without calling attention to it? Or do I do something about it? Please respond to this difficult topic.
Data, Analytics, ML, AI Executive serving Healthcare, Life Sciences, Financials, Automotive driving better patient, customer outcome utilizing technology innovations.
7 年Sorry for the late response. how r the girls and team doing ?
Just Retired
8 年Mike, This is America where, no matter your opinion, many have given their lives to provide us ALL with the opportunity to express our opinions without any reservation, penalty or regret. If the girls feel strongly, support their God given and constitutional right to their views.
Former Head Coach For The Fayetteville Stingers (TBL)
8 年Mr. Hicks, Opinions can be misunderstood or even misleading. I would show moral support and be as educated as possible. I teach my girls that the gym is their place of peace. This is a safe haven to work on your art and to leave the problems of this world on the other side of the doors. Could that sound like I don't care, maybe....that's when allowing yourself to be an ear to a kid is important. My coach once told me that " Everyone has a story to tell, how (you) allow the story to end is how you determine the person you are. Now, if the kids mission is to protest, simply ask them what's their solution. Nothing wrong with the protest if your not trying to be a part of the problem ( Peacefully). So many protest are happening but no one has come up with a solution. I'm an African American Male/Coach. Yes it's difficult to hear and see what's going on in this country. Some say it starts at home and it probably does. As coaches, we have to do more then just X's and O's. We have to father, teach, mentor, educate, minister. So many people in our country don't stand for anything. You know the saying, "IF YOU DONT STAND FOR SOMETHING, YOU'LL FOR ANYTHING". Continue to stand firm in your coaching and keep the kids busy and show positive out comes to their hard work.
Mr. Hicks, you definitely are well within the realms of normality to have this issue be heavy on your heart. One very important thing to remember is you are NOT alone. Make sure you reach out to your principal and athletic director. No matter what happens moving forward, fairness, communication and consistency must rule. Educate yourself as much as possible on the topic and encourage your student athletes to do the same. In a situation like this it's okay to let them know you don't have all the answers to all the most difficult questions in life. Follow the mission of the school and respect for individual liberties and I am sure you all will get this right. LeRoy Fullwood Jr. c/o '97