VIEWPOINTS
VIEWPOINTS
In this issue of DyNAMC we focus on “Sports”
The world of sports affords us the opportunity to gain insight into the sensitive
issues of racism, sexism, and classism. Whether it was a conscious stand
or unintentional advocacy, athletes and coaches throughout history have
used sports to change the racial atmosphere of our society. Some feel
without sports we may not experience the level of equality we experience
today. Sports organizations, in general, are a billion dollar business, with
the Super Bowl getting more viewers than the presidential race.
We believe each individual featured in our sports edition issue embodies
what it means to be a DyNAMC Leader for a Changing World within the
sports arena, and we are proud to share their stories with our readers.
We asked them, “Is it every professional athletes and major league
association's moral obligation to act as a leader for equality and racial
acceptance??”
We wanted to know, and we thought you would, too.
Be Enlightened!
“I feel like it isn’t, technically, their job; but, with so
many eyes on them and so many kids watching
them, they probably have the best chance to break
the stereotypes and move forward. Without sports,
it might have taken longer to break the race barrier.
You know, Jackie Robinson and people like Warren
Moon came up in times when there weren’t really
many black guys playing. For them to be able to
come up and make an impact in their sports
is just awesome. Today, they’re hiring female
coaches and just crazy stuff, but it’s good. It’s
helping to erase those stereotypical thoughts
and helping everything to be more diverse, which
is always a good thing. Every kid watches sports
when they’re growing up. So they see stuff like this and it
might change their thoughts from whatever they’re being
taught at home. It might open their minds, so they can say,
‘Hey, it’s just fine if a girl coaches or is in charge. It’s cool to
be diverse and embrace our differences.’
Rodney Thompson, Age 17
Junior, St. Augustine High School
San Diego #1 Quarter Back
NAMCO Student Member
DyNAMC Future Leader
n Jr.
o
Rodney R. Thomps
DyNAMC • ISSUE 12
“Take Cam Newton, for example. He’s tearing it up on the
field and doing all his little dances. As I’m walking around,
I see little seven-year-old kids doing that same dance. So,
yeah, sports has an impact. If those high-profile superstars are
there, embracing diversity and being cool with everything that’s
going on, I feel like the kids will be cool, as well. Because those
athletes are their role models. Those are the people who they’re
looking up to. That’s who they want to be when they grow up.”
Saint Augustin
e High School
in San Diego,
Class of 2017
CA
; 6'-2" 196 po
und, Junior Se
San Diego’s #1
ason
Quarter Back
for #1 ranked
football team
the St. August
ine Saints
1700 yards pa
ssing, 24 TD
6 picks; 700 ya
rushing, 7 TD
rds
All CIF
All League
Recipient of th
e National Ac
ademic Athlet
Scholar awar
ic
d and the St.
Augustine Sc
Recognition fo
holar
r maintaining
a GPA above
DyNAMC Futu
3.8.
re Leader
15