Michael

Let’s just be honest here: Donald Trump has zero interest in improving the lives of Black folks in this country and has never been serious about helping our community. In policy, deed, action and rhetoric, he has proven this repeatedly. Just last week, his administration launched an investigation into the programs Wells Fargo instituted a decade to increase Black home ownership. Does that sound like someone who is open to changing course about how he has treated our community? His nonstop attack on DEI programs, federal budget cuts that had a disproportionate impact on Black federal workers, censorship of Black history or outright removal of Black historic figures, cuts to Medicaid, Medicare and SNAP — does any of that sound like someone who is willing to change their approach? He got exactly what he wanted out of this dinner. He ran right to the media to brag about how much celebrities like him. He wanted to prove his power and how much people are dying to have access to him. Congratulations, he did exactly that. How many times are y’all going to fall for the banana in the tailpipe?

What they’re supposed to be and what they are, that’s two different things. Big-time college sports are professional sports. And by the way, the only reason the term “student athlete” was ever invented is because the NCAA was trying to avoid a lawsuit. It was never rooted in any real ideology other than greed.

It was a term created by Walter Byers, the first head of the NCAA. He created the term to protect the NCAA from having to pay disability payments to players. There was a player named Ray Dennison, who died from a head injury while playing football. Dennison’s widow filed for worker’s comp and death benefits. To avoid paying out and creating a precedent, student athlete was born. This is central to why the NCAA won’t consider players to be employees — avoiding accountability and liability.