The NFL and Social Injustice by Gyan Mehta https://padlet.com/gyanmehta43/7dufd2pa04r6jfuq The NFL was historically a conservative league when it came to addressing issues that plagued society. So what changed? en-us 2021-06-04 00:21:40 UTC 2024-07-18 06:55:27 UTC hello@padlet.com https://padlet.net/icons/png/1f3c8.png Background gyanmehta43 https://padlet.com/gyanmehta43/7dufd2pa04r6jfuq/wish/1583983004 The death of George Floyd shook the world. People across the world came out to protest injustice against black people. Everyone took to social media to use their voices to raise awareness and bring change to society, including athletes across all sports. The NBA and MLB supported their players -- but the NFL remained silent... until two employees working for its social media team decided enough is enough. 

The outcome? The NFL was forced to publicly support its players and the BLM movement.]]> 2021-06-04 00:28:42 UTC https://padlet.com/gyanmehta43/7dufd2pa04r6jfuq/wish/1583983004 Malcolm Jenkins: You Aren't Listening gyanmehta43 https://padlet.com/gyanmehta43/7dufd2pa04r6jfuq/wish/1584003105 2021-06-04 00:37:20 UTC https://padlet.com/gyanmehta43/7dufd2pa04r6jfuq/wish/1584003105 Why Did Commissioner Goodell Suddenly Start Supporting The Social Injustice Movement? gyanmehta43 https://padlet.com/gyanmehta43/7dufd2pa04r6jfuq/wish/1584007285 We would be too naive to think that Roger Goodell and the NFL suddenly had a change of heart, understood social issues, and supported the movement because they were upset by the crime committed against George Floyd. Yes, they may have all individually felt sickened and upset by the act, but people needed the NFL as an organization to take a stand. 

Two employees working for the NFL's social media team -- Bryndon Minter and Nick Toney -- were upset by the subpar response given by the NFL. They secretly wrote a script and reached out to Saints WR Michael Thomas, who reached out to many other athletes across the league, to create a powerful video. 

In this 71 second video, the most elite athletes, including the face of the NFL (Patrick Mahomes),  called out the NFL and voiced their frustration. It was the first time that players have, as a whole, called out the organization. They told the NFL what they want to hear and see. 

This video was so powerful that the NFL was forced to respond. Within a day, Roger Goodell released a video saying things that we have never heard before. He admitted that they were wrong for not listening to their players. He admitted they were wrong for not allowing them to peacefully protest. And for the first time, even if it was potentially damage control, the NFL had said "Black Lives Matter". 

.]]> 2021-06-04 00:39:10 UTC https://padlet.com/gyanmehta43/7dufd2pa04r6jfuq/wish/1584007285 NFL Players Demand That The NFL Say: Black Lives Matter gyanmehta43 https://padlet.com/gyanmehta43/7dufd2pa04r6jfuq/wish/1584065543 2021-06-04 01:04:23 UTC https://padlet.com/gyanmehta43/7dufd2pa04r6jfuq/wish/1584065543 Roger Godell Responds To His Players' Video gyanmehta43 https://padlet.com/gyanmehta43/7dufd2pa04r6jfuq/wish/1584077342 2021-06-04 01:09:35 UTC https://padlet.com/gyanmehta43/7dufd2pa04r6jfuq/wish/1584077342 "We, the National Football League, admit we were wrong for not listening to NFL players earlier and encourage all to speak out and peacefully protest" - Roger Goodell gyanmehta43 https://padlet.com/gyanmehta43/7dufd2pa04r6jfuq/wish/1584081286 2021-06-04 01:11:20 UTC https://padlet.com/gyanmehta43/7dufd2pa04r6jfuq/wish/1584081286 References: gyanmehta43 https://padlet.com/gyanmehta43/7dufd2pa04r6jfuq/wish/1584086490 Battista, Judy. “NFL Commits $250M over 10-Year Period to Combat Systemic Racism.” NFL.com, NFL, 12 June 2020, www.nfl.com/news/nfl-commits-250m-over-10-year-period-to-combat-systemic-racism. 

Dator, James. “The NFL Is Shifting Social Justice off Itself and onto Players, and the Outcome Will Be Unfair.” SBNation.com, SBNation.com, 2 Sept. 2020, www.sbnation.com/2020/9/2/21418264/nfl-black-lives-matter-social-justice-colin-kaepernick. 

Florio, Mike. “Players Produce Powerful Video Demanding Clear Messages from NFL.” ProFootballTalk, 5 June 2020, www.profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2020/06/04/players-produce-powerful-video-demanding-clear-messages-from-nfl/. 

Haislop, Tadd. “Colin Kaepernick Kneeling Timeline: How Protests during the National Anthem Started a Movement in the NFL.” Sporting News, (Getty Images), 13 Sept. 2020, www.sportingnews.com/us/nfl/news/colin-kaepernick-kneeling-protest-timeline/xktu6ka4diva1s5jxaylrcsse 

Lauletta, Tyler. “How a 'Rogue' NFL Employee Teamed up with Saints Wide Receiver Michael Thomas to Help Create a Video That Would Compel the League to Say 'Black Lives Matter'.” Insider, Insider, 9 June 2020, www.insider.com/michael-thomas-bryndon-minter-nick-toney-black-lives-matter-video-2020-6. 

Mark Maske, Adam Kilgore. “What Made Roger Goodell Say 'Black Lives Matter' and Where It Leaves the NFL.” The Washington Post, WP Company, 7 June 2020, www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2020/06/06/roger-goodell-black-lives-matter/. 

Neal_Freyman. “Goodell Video Spurred by NFL Social Media Employee's Actions.” Morning Brew, Morning Brew, 7 June 2020, www.morningbrew.com/daily/stories/2020/06/07/goodell-video-spurred-nfl-social-media-employees-actions. 

Wyche, Steve. “Colin Kaepernick Explains Why He Sat during National Anthem.” NFL.com, NFL, 26 Aug. 2020, www.nfl.com/news/colin-kaepernick-explains-why-he-sat-during-national-anthem-0ap3000000691077. 



]]> 2021-06-04 01:13:33 UTC https://padlet.com/gyanmehta43/7dufd2pa04r6jfuq/wish/1584086490 Colin Kaepernick Sits During The National Anthem gyanmehta43 https://padlet.com/gyanmehta43/7dufd2pa04r6jfuq/wish/1584093786 2021-06-04 01:16:43 UTC https://padlet.com/gyanmehta43/7dufd2pa04r6jfuq/wish/1584093786 Colin Kaepernick Kneeling Timeline gyanmehta43 https://padlet.com/gyanmehta43/7dufd2pa04r6jfuq/wish/1584097804 2021-06-04 01:18:28 UTC https://padlet.com/gyanmehta43/7dufd2pa04r6jfuq/wish/1584097804 Timeline: Colin Kaepernick Starts A Movement gyanmehta43 https://padlet.com/gyanmehta43/7dufd2pa04r6jfuq/wish/1584102755 August 26, 2016: "I am not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people and people of color," Kaepernick tells NFL Media after the game. "To me, this is bigger than football and it would be selfish on my part to look the other way. There are bodies in the street and people getting paid leave and getting away with murder."

March 1, 2017: Kaepernick opts out of his contract with the 49ers after rumors that they would release him. He never takes another snap on an NFL field.

-- Colin Kaepernick continues his fight for social injustice with Nike. They use their platform and collaborate with him to raise awareness and try to bring change --

June 4, 2020: Two NFL social media employees collaborate with top NFL players to create a video that calls out NFL leadership.

June 5, 2020: Roger Goodell says "Black Lives Matter"

June 11, 2020: NFL commits $250 million over a 10-year period to combact systematic racism]]> 2021-06-04 01:20:38 UTC https://padlet.com/gyanmehta43/7dufd2pa04r6jfuq/wish/1584102755 NFL Players 'Happy' But Not Impressed By NFL's Response gyanmehta43 https://padlet.com/gyanmehta43/7dufd2pa04r6jfuq/wish/1584191062 2021-06-04 01:58:17 UTC https://padlet.com/gyanmehta43/7dufd2pa04r6jfuq/wish/1584191062 Final Paper gyanmehta43 https://padlet.com/gyanmehta43/7dufd2pa04r6jfuq/wish/1586024839 2021-06-04 18:31:55 UTC https://padlet.com/gyanmehta43/7dufd2pa04r6jfuq/wish/1586024839 Padlet Wall Overview Video gyanmehta43 https://padlet.com/gyanmehta43/7dufd2pa04r6jfuq/wish/1586345258 2021-06-04 22:09:56 UTC https://padlet.com/gyanmehta43/7dufd2pa04r6jfuq/wish/1586345258