Confronting Racial Injustice in Hockey
I've been thinking about the right words to say,
The right message to give,
The right frame to show our community's alliance towards people of color and those oppressed by systemic racism.
Especially as a member of the hockey community, where our lives are stuffed with privileges few others have.
For chrissake, in order to play our game, we have to flood a rink of freshwater -- a resource much of world still doesn't have -- and freeze it.
Our sport exists in a shelter of privilege.
Before we can give our thoughts, and make plans of actions for how we are going to be leaders of solving this problem..
We need to admit we don't know, and don't understand, and start by listening and talking to those with starkly different experiences than us.
Here are some resources I've found valuable in understanding the black experience in America.
Most related to our community is a piece from Akim Aliu for The Player's Tribune. This is a must-read for everybody in hockey.
A few books that I've found immensely valuable:
Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates
If you only read one book on the topic, make it this one.
Next, ready anything and everything by James Baldwin. He's one of the most powerful writers of his generation. My personal favorite is Notes of a Native Son, a collection of nonfiction essays by Baldwin, many of which relate to the Black experience.
Finally, going back to specifically the fitness industry, our friend Anthony Renna has done a great series on the Strength Coach Podcast about racism in the fitness industry.
We can all do more. As people of privilege, it's our duty to do more. Yet, that starts with listening and talking to others to understand the twisted, despicable turns our society has taken to systemically oppress minorities and people of color.
Black Lives Matter.
~David
