Syracuse basketball legend Derrick Coleman gets it.
Earlier this week, the former NBA Rookie of the Year took a clear stand against the racist congressional redistricting efforts occurring in the South by declining to attend his induction ceremony into the Mobile Sports Hall of Fame.
“We cannot settle for silence,” said Coleman in a Facebook post. “We must continue to organize, mobilize, vote, challenge unfair maps and demand fair representation at every level. Democracy will not fall on our watch.”
It’s a refreshing sight to see as far too many Black athletes, particularly active athletes and those in college, have gone silent as Jim Crow has awakened in the South thanks to the Supreme Court’s infuriating ruling against Black congressional districts.
It’s an issue that spurred the NAACP (and First and Pen) to issue its statement calling for Black athletes, fans, families and other to boycott big programs in Tennessee, Louisiana, Alabama, Florida, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, and Georgia
But Coleman isn’t one of the silenced.
Instead, he unapologetically addressed the alarming situation.
“People fought, bled, marched, organized and died for these protections. To accept personal recognition while Black voters and other voters of color continue to face challenges to fair representation would be a contradiction of everything my journey represents,” he said.
Coleman was a Mobile native who ultimately moved to Detroit and became a star player and McDonald’s All-American at Detroit Northern High School. He then moved on to Syracuse, became an All-American, led the Orange to the National title game in 1987 and eventually became the number one overall pick by the New Jersey Nets in the 1990 NBA Draft.
His accolades continued during his 15 NBA seasons, starting with winning the Rookie of the Year in 1990 and then becoming an All-Star in the 1993-94 season.
And while he doesn’t play ball anymore, Coleman isn’t playing with the future of this country or the rights of Black people.
“For many Americans, these debates are not abstract political issues; they are questions about whether every citizen’s voice carries equal weight in our democracy,” said Coleman. “This is not simply about elections. It is about whether democracy works equally for everyone.”
The ceremony is scheduled for June 16th and includes longtime basketball coach Joe Niland, former Buffalo Bills player Derrick Burroughs, and former Major League Baseball player Eric Yelding, who are currently scheduled to join past inductees including legends like Hank Aaron, Satchel Paige, Willie McCovey and Ozzie Smith.
But Coleman won’t be joining his fellow inductees at the ceremony while so much is at stake.
“This is not a rejection of recognition, history or sports legacy,” Coleman said. “It is an affirmation that any honor connected to me is also connected to my community, my ancestors, and the people whose struggle and sacrifice made my path possible. I just hope this moment can lead to reflection, understanding and a deeper commitment to justice, equity, dignity, and fair representation for all people.”
While it’s great to see that Derrick Coleman gets it, it’s a shame that so many others who share melanin with Coleman don’t.
