UNCOMFORTABLE CONVERSATIONS
Lions players break from team meetings to talk about racism and crisis in the U.S.
It’s been an uncomfortable week for several members of the Detroit Lions.
Still meeting virtually, the team took a break this week to let players talk about the racial issues that have come to the forefront following the death of George Floyd at the hands of police in Minnesota.
“Team meetings have been very unique, especially from the perspective of myself, a white kid who grew up in suburban/ country privilege,” said offensive lineman Frank Ragnow, who is staying in Minnesota less than an hour away from where Floyd was killed. “I’ll say it, I was a privileged kid. I had a great upbringing and I’ve never had to worry about things that some of my black brothers in that locker-room have had to worry about.”
Ragnow and new safety Duron Harmon, who came to Detroit in a deal with the New England Patriots, spoke with the media on Friday about the experience. Both praised head coach Matt Patricia, who took part in Friday’s
Freedom March on Belle Isle, for opening things up for players.
“We kind of took a break from football because how could you worry about football when obviously the country’s in a crisis like this, that’s so much bigger than football right now?” Harmon said.
The 29-year-old Harmon recalled three personal stories of confrontation with police.
The first at Walmart when he was 17 and a police officer didn’t like the way he made eye contact.
Another time in Massachusetts he was pulled over because he had a Delaware license plate.
The third time when he was pulled over in what he called a “black and brown neighbourhood” while looking for the building where he was to get an MRI.
In the latter two instances, the conversation quickly turned when police realized he was a member of the Patriots.
“Both of those instances, after they figure out who I was and who I play for, the conversation obviously takes a turn,” Harmon said. “Then they want to talk about the Patriots and us trying to win a Super Bowl.”
But it’s the conversation Harmon had with his parents after the Walmart incident that still sticks with him.
“My mom and my father, they told me, ‘Look, you’re a black man. Right, wrong or indifferent, you are feared. When people see you get upset, they see the big, black guy who’s angry. You need to do a better job of controlling your emotions.”
Even by video, Ragnow says, such conversations with teammates have been difficult to hear this week.
“Obviously, I was aware there was a problem in this country,” the 24-year-old Ragnow said. “I knew we weren’t perfectly united as a country, but I’m sick to my stomach about things I’ve heard from some of my teammates, friends and brothers that they have to worry about and deal with. It’s been very eye-opening, very uncomfortable, and very real.”
The marches continued on Friday, not just in the United States, but also in Canada and elsewhere in the world, and while Harmon said the focus has to stay in the moment, some are already wondering how to ensure the moment doesn’t simply pass.
“Coming into the league, I just wanted to be the best football player I could be, and I think now, going into my eighth year (and) turning 30 sooner than later, you realize there’s so much more to life,” Harmon said. “So much more to being a part of this world than just being a football player. We have to allocate the time. We have to keep (the message) there. We have to prioritize it because it’s important.”
Players credit the NFL for jumping on the issue and expect the league and teams to continue that push going forward.
“It needs to continue, that’s a thousand per cent, it can’t stop here,” Ragnow said. “I’m looking forward to those discussions. It will be uncomfortable for us, as white people, and we need to get comfortable being uncomfortable so we can figure out this issue.
“I’m sure there will be some uncomfortable moments, some learning and some understanding. In the end, it’s got to be for the positive and make it change.
“Someone said in the meeting this week that there’s been a lot of great minds trying to fix this problem for a long time and it’s still a problem. It’s not going to happen overnight, it’s not going to happen just like that. We just need to find our ways to eliminate racism.”
I had a great upbringing and I’ve never had to worry about things that some of my black brothers in that locker-room have had to worry about.