Lee Johnson Global PR’s Post

In a concerning trend for Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), the NFL Draft of 2024 closed without any HBCU prospects being selected. This absence marks the second occurrence in the past four years, mirroring the 2021 draft, sparking concerns over the visibility and evaluation of talent from these institutions. The recurring oversight has catalyzed the establishment of platforms like the HBCU Legacy Bowl and the NFL-backed HBCU Combine, aimed at amplifying exposure for HBCU talents. Despite these efforts, the draft outcomes have shown only a marginal increase in the selection of HBCU players. After the 2021 draft’s disappointment, Deion Sanders, the then-head coach at Jackson State, expressed his frustration on social media, advocating for greater recognition of the deserving athletes at HBCUs. The 2022 draft saw a slight improvement with four HBCU athletes picked, but this number dwindled again by 2023. Last year, Jackson State’s cornerback Isaiah Bolden was the sole HBCU player drafted, selected 245th overall by the New England Patriots. Over the past five drafts, HBCU representation has been minimal, with just eight players drafted, highlighting a significant underrepresentation. This year, players like Virginia State’s cornerback Willie Reed and Howard University’s left tackle Anim Dankwah, standing at an impressive 6-foot-8, were on draft radars but ultimately overlooked. This ongoing issue raises critical questions about the evaluation processes and the need for enhanced mechanisms to ensure that HBCU athletes receive the recognition and opportunities they rightfully deserve. #HBCU #NFLDraft2024 #BlackCollegeFootball #HBCULegacy #SportsEquality #UnderrepresentedAthletes #BlackExcellence #CollegeSports

In a concerning trend for Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), the NFL Draft of 2024 closed without any HBCU prospects being selected. This absence marks the second occurrence in the past four years, mirroring the 2021 draft, sparking concerns over the visibility and evaluation of talent from these institutions. The recurring oversight has catalyzed the establishment of platforms like the HBCU Legacy Bowl and the NFL-backed HBCU Combine, aimed at amplifying exposure for HBCU talents. Despite these efforts, the draft outcomes have shown only a marginal increase in the selection of HBCU players. After the 2021 draft’s disappointment, Deion Sanders, the then-head coach at Jackson State, expressed his frustration on social media, advocating for greater recognition of the deserving athletes at HBCUs. The 2022 draft saw a slight improvement with four HBCU athletes picked, but this number dwindled again by 2023. Last year, Jackson State’s cornerback Isaiah Bolden was the sole HBCU player drafted, selected 245th overall by the New England Patriots. Over the past five drafts, HBCU representation has been minimal, with just eight players drafted, highlighting a significant underrepresentation. This year, players like Virginia State’s cornerback Willie Reed and Howard University’s left tackle Anim Dankwah, standing at an impressive 6-foot-8, were on draft radars but ultimately overlooked. This ongoing issue raises critical questions about the evaluation processes and the need for enhanced mechanisms to ensure that HBCU athletes receive the recognition and opportunities they rightfully deserve. #HBCU #NFLDraft2024 #BlackCollegeFootball #HBCULegacy #SportsEquality #UnderrepresentedAthletes #BlackExcellence #CollegeSports

Most people are familiar with the Negro Leagues of baseball, but few are aware of the Black Fives Era of basketball. Just after the game of basketball was invented in 1891, teams were called “fives” in reference to their five starting players. Basketball, like American society, was racially segregated & teams made up entirely of African American players were often known as “colored quints,” or “black fives.” The period of time between 1904 and when the NBA integrated in 1950, is known as the Black Five Era. During this time all-Black teams emerged, flourished, and excelled in urban industrial centers like New York, Washington, Pittsburgh, Chicago, and even Milwaukee. Barred from the Whites-only gymnasiums and athletic clubs, Black Fives teams played in church basements, armories, meeting halls and dance ballrooms. Rather than just isolated basketball games, these events also involved jazz music and dances before and after games. These teams would travel for months at a time, traveling thousands of miles, playing every night and twice on Sundays, often sleeping on the bus due to Jim Crow laws. Occasionally, they would play all white teams and faced ruthless name calling and overtly biased referees. The most famous team was the New York Renaissance or Rens, who had an 83% winning percentage and an 88 game win streak while barnstorming the country. 12 players from the Black Fives Era have been posthumously inducted into the Naismith Memorial Hall of Fame. #blackhistorymonth2024

NCAA D1 - Football teams in Texas 🇺🇸🏈🤠 "In the American football culture, there’s nothing that can replace college football. Yes, the US has the NFL and the NBA, and even Major League Baseball. These have a global presence. However, if we stop to consider the audience for college football leagues and the level of excitement these matches bring, well, college football is unmatched. College football is part of American culture. It’s played a big role in the history of civil rights in the country. In the 1960s, the football teams in colleges were the first institutions to integrate white and black players. In the past, there were all-white or all-black teams. Sports have the power to unite people, and college football is proof of that." More at: https://lnkd.in/gQFRawJv

The 100 Black Men of America, Inc. Chairman Milton Jones Jr. participated with the Players Coalition in Las Vegas on February 9, 2024. The Players Coalition was founded in 2017 by NFL players Anquan Boldin and Malcolm Jenkins. Milton discussed the Work of the 100, The importance of mentoring, and how organizations have and can collaborate to effectuate positive change for youth and communities. 100 Black Men of America is a newly announced NFL social justice grant recipient at the national level. The Fireside chat included a Q&A with Malcolm Jenkins, who discussed the Players Coalition work, being an active participant in your community, and his new book, What Winners Won’t Tell You. The 100 BMOA The 100 Black Men of America, Inc. is recognized as the nation’s top African-American-led mentoring organization. The mission of the 100 Black Men of America, Inc. is to improve the quality of life within our communities and enhance educational and economic opportunities for all African Americans. 100 Black Men of America is a newly announced NFL social justice grant recipient at the national level. #100BlackMen

On February 9, 2024, the 100 Black Men of America, Inc. Chairman Milton Jones Jr. participated with the Players Coalition in Las Vegas. The Players Coalition was founded in 2017 by NFL players Anquan Boldin and Malcolm Jenkins. Milton discussed the Work of the 100, The importance of mentoring, and how organizations have and can collaborate to effectuate positive change for youth and communities. 100 Black Men of America is a newly announced NFL social justice grant recipient at the national level. The Fireside chat included a Q&A with Malcolm Jenkins, who discussed the Players Coalition work, being an active participant in your community, and his new book, What Winners Won’t Tell You. The 100 BMOA The 100 Black Men of America, Inc. is recognized as the nation’s top African-American-led mentoring organization. The mission of the 100 Black Men of America, Inc. is to improve the quality of life within our communities and enhance educational and economic opportunities for all African Americans. 100 Black Men of America is a newly announced NFL social justice grant recipient at the national level. #100BMOA

🚨 New Special Report Released! 🚨 The Black Presence in College Basketball: Profitable Progress or Pseudo Progress? 🏀 Over the past decade, the landscape of college athletics has evolved, but has this progress been truly equitable for Black athletes and coaches? Despite increased visibility through NIL deals and media attention, deep-rooted disparities in leadership roles and compensation persist—especially for those in lower divisions. This special report dives into these trends, exploring whether the current system is creating real opportunities for Black athletes and coaches, or if it's just a continuation of the status quo. Click here to read the full report and learn more about the data, insights, and what the future holds: https://lnkd.in/gkQEUw6J #NCAA #BlackAthletes #Leadership #NIL #Basketball #DiversityInSports #NoBackboards

Baseball legend Reggie Jackson recently made a powerful statement during a pregame broadcast, sharing his experiences of racism and segregation during his time in the Southern League. His words highlighted the painful history of segregation and discrimination that Black players faced in the Major League Baseball (MLB) and beyond. Jackson's story, which included references to the Birmingham bombing and the racial segregation he faced, served as a stark reminder of the struggles faced by Black players in the MLB. Despite the MLB's efforts to honor the Negro Leagues, the reality of the present-day MLB is that the number of Black players has significantly decreased, with no native-born Black players in the 2022 World Series. This situation raises questions about the effectiveness of anti-diversity laws and book bans in preserving the history of racism and discrimination. It also highlights the need for a deeper understanding of the historical context of the MLB and the ongoing struggle for equality in the sport. What are your thoughts on the role of diversity in sports and the impact of anti-diversity laws on the representation of Black players in the MLB? Read the4 full story by Joseph Williams and Liz Courquet-Lesaulnier from Word In Black at dallasweekly.com #iamdw #blackpress #reggiejackson #negroleagues #blackhistory #mlbhistory #racialequality

Today, I want to highlight the importance of being intentional in recognizing and rectifying historical injustices. Major League Baseball (MLB) has taken a significant step by including the statistics of Black players who were previously excluded due to segregation. This long-overdue acknowledgment not only honors the incredible talent of these athletes but also sets a precedent for doing the right thing. One standout example is Josh Gibson, whose remarkable achievements were never fully recognized. In fact, Gibson's stats surpass those of legends like Babe Ruth. By including his and other Black players' records, we are finally giving them the recognition they deserve. Let's continue to strive for fairness and inclusivity in ALL aspects of life! We still have a long way to go!! full video here (snip of video attached) https://lnkd.in/exGjmkQn #MLB #Inclusion #HistoricalJustice #JoshGibson #IntentionalActions #recognition #honor #beintentional

South Carolina won, with a perfect 37-0 record and new fans of women’s basketball continue repeating the tired refrain that “Caitlyn single-handedly revolutionized women’s basketball.” This discourse seems to suggest that commercials, interviews, magazine covers, sponsorships and promos invest in themselves. CC is an exceptional offensive talent, but the overinvestment in her brand is what made women’s basketball more watchable. Clark literally cannot do that herself. Just because you never watched women’s basketball before does not mean there was no prior electrifying talent worth the same investment Clark is now receiving. The fact that so many people are spending more time playing defense for Caitlyn (something she doesn’t do very well), and less time celebrating South Carolina’s 37-0 victory, shows me how and why CC has the fandom she does: we are more invested in racial narratives (about Black girls as “ghetto,” “mean,” etc. and white girls as “classy”) than we are in the beauty of the sport itself. To be clear: talking about race does not take away from Caitlyn’s greatness. It just exposes the lie that greatness never existed before her.