While driving to work yesterday, I was on the phone (hands-free I might add) with one of my best friends. In my frustration of watching all the social media post regarding season tickets, the score of the game, etc., I announced emphatically: “I was not going to get on Facebook for the entire NFL season.” I knew no one would miss me so I wasn’t saying it as if any of my Facebook family or friends would miss me or not be able to continue on with their lives. I was on one of my Angela Davis kicks, which I say with the utmost respect meaning, WE HAVE TO DO BETTER. “Why don’t my people get the bigger issue of this NFL boycott.” I said. “We are programmed not to give a s@#t.” he said. “We’ve all be targeted as people of color for just being who we are let alone when we speak up.” I said. “But we don’t understand the effects that White supremacy and racism have had on us.” he said. In these conversations, we alway get to this point of “Well, what are we going to do about it?”
Then it hit me. I remembered when I visited the Blacksonian here in Washington, DC; specifically, the Emmett Till exhibit. Emmett Till was accused of whistling at a white women outside of Bryant’s Grocery Store and Meat Market in Money, Mississippi; later taken, tortured and killed by the owners and friends for that “offense.” There I learned,
After Bryant and Milam admitted to Huie that they had killed Till, the support base of the two men eroded in Mississippi.[107] Many of their former friends and supporters, including those who had contributed to their defense funds, cut them off. Blacks boycotted their shops, which went bankrupt and closed, and banks refused to grant them loans to plant crops.
Re-read the above quote one more time, please. The store went out of business because my people protested the injustice of this crime. The Bryant’s were never able to get away from the stigma they caused. This leads me back to the NFL Boycott that some think is stupid, a waste of time, or of no concern either way. We have to impact the NFL where it will hurt them more, MONEY. That all boils down to the sponsors of the NFL. If we stop buying the products being advertised, the sponsors will leave which will effect a fraction of power the NFL has. As least, that is my hope. Here is the most recent list of NFL sponsors I could find but if someone has a revised list, please share:
The Bryant’s Grocery Store did not close over night after one day of boycotting. It took vigilance and determination to stick together. I already see six (6) things on the list I need cut from my way of life already. Are you in?
shespeaking.com 