Keep the conversation going
June 18, 2020
The Black Lives Matter movement has found an unlikely but long-overdue ally in the sports world: NASCAR.
JARED C. TILTON/GETTY IMAGES
The GIST: The Black Lives Matter movement has found an unlikely but long-overdue ally in the sports world: NASCAR.
Really?: Really! NASCAR has a long history of racism, an overwhelmingly white fanbase and up until last week, a sea of Confederate flags at most races. But the stock car racing series is working to change: this week, NASCAR hired Brandon Thompson as their vice president of diversity and inclusion, a new role within the organization.
- Thompson’s promotion comes at a time when NASCAR is looking to expand its fanbase and attract new and diverse talent to the sport. Moves like this prove the value and the power of the Black Lives Matter movement — let’s keep it going.
Awesome. Any other news?: It looks like Colin Kaepernick, the quarterback (QB) who began the #TakeAKnee national anthem protests and was subsequently banished from the NFL in 2016, has a great chance to return to the league in 2020.
- The Los Angeles Chargers might be adding Kaepernick to their workout list, and the Philadelphia Eagles are showing interest in bringing him on as a backup QB. And apparently the Las Vegas Raiders (who recently moved from Oakland) are trying to do the same. Yes, please!
- Kaepernick even has the backing of two unlikely sources: NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and president Donald Trump. Well, well, well how the turn tables.
