I don't know any black sailors. I'm not talking historically, when man o' wars were regularly crewed by men of many races. I'm talking about your average posh marina crowd. Not saying there are no such men or women, because I'm sure there are die-hard black sailors here in America who can't wait to unfurl the spinnaker. I salute all of you. But Brown University yesterday cut men's cross country and track and field, not using the coronavirus as an excuse by name, but blaming the cancellation on the coronavirus without having to say so as a pretext for what they did next. . . .
Add a competitive sailing team. One of the most diverse sports at Brown, counting more black men than lacrosse, baseball, ice hockey, and crew combined, the track team is now history. I can only imagine where they're going to find equal diversity with the new sailing team.
I blame Kobe Bryant.
Ever since Kobe died, things have gone downhill in the US. First, Kobe. Then Coronavirus. Then rampant hand-washing. Then school and business closures. Then the end of sports as we know it. Then, the white-entitlement protesters for the beaches and buildings, wielding automatic weapons where allowed (imagine a group of men of color walking around with automatic weapons — there'd be hundreds of Floyd's). Then George Floyd. Then all the rest.
I was leaving Lowe's here in RSM the other day after buying a pair of trees which I hope will grow tall enough to form a perfect shield between myself and my neighbor. All this time has shown me we need a little space. I heard that there was a protest at the City Hall. Part of me wanted to go in a show of support, but I had those trees in the back of the truck. So I went home.
I stand at attention for the National Anthem. Full attention. Hand over my heart. I sometimes weep at the sound of the Star-Spangled Banner, knowing the cost borne by so many for our freedoms. I would never kneel. Not ever. Not on one knee, not on two. The National Anthem is sacred to me.
And so is the Constitution. If someone chooses the Anthem as a chance to express themselves by kneeling, I support them 100%. America is built on revolution and change and freedom of expression. Frankly, right now we need a revolution. And it's up to privileged white guys like me to get a little uncomfortable on their way home from a routine visit to home improvement store, and at least stop by a protest to show my support. The kids in this video are part of the USATF Foundation Olympic Development Program, something I founded a few years ago. This is the future of my sport. Might be a few future sailors among them, but that's ok.