NEWSLETTER
Emmanuel Acho’s “Uncomfortable conversations with a Black Man” series has opened my eyes to perspectives I wasn’t previously seeing. And with that being said, I encourage others to follow Acho on Twitter and follow along with the series.
Acho’s most recent interview with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell is a good one. More important than that, the interview is one in which Goodell admits he erred in not listening to Colin Kaepernick and others who chose to kneel as a sign of protest social injustices during the National Anthem.
“I wish we had listened earlier, Kaep, to what you were kneeling about and what you were trying to bring attention to,” Goodell said.
And there it is!
Previously, Goodell publicly stated “we were wrong” for not listening to players regarding their concerns when it came to issues of racial injustice. But when Goodell did so, he did it while not directly addressing Kaepernick. That was a misstep, especially since Kaepernick is essentially the face of this particular player-led movement. So even while that video statement was a step in the right direction, it didn’t go all the way. Through that lens, Goodell’s interview with Acho helps atone for that oversight. Nothing like public acknowledgment that you effed up. Talk about a teachable moment.
To be clear, this doesn’t erase the past. But if Goodell (and the league) can learn from prior mistakes, it can be a net positive.
The entirety of Acho’s interview with Goodell is enlightening, so I would encourage you to check it out:
Uncomfortable Conversations with a Black Man: The National Anthem Protest- PT. 1
NFL Commissioner, Roger Goodell, & I discuss Colin Kaepernick & the protests during the national anthem that polarized America. pic.twitter.com/PcL02732ys
— Emmanuel Acho (@EmmanuelAcho) August 23, 2020
