MLS’ Black Players Coalition launches
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – A squadron of Black players in Major League Soccer have organized to create change.
Initially led by rage and now carried by frustration of Black men and women being continuously exposed to racism in America, more than 70 Black MLS players are making history. They have formed a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, The Black Players Coalition of Major League Soccer. They announced the formation on Freedom Day for Black Americans, better known as Juneteenth.
What started as an Instagram group chat among nine players three weeks ago – set in motion by Toronto FC left back Justin Morrow – expanded to a chat of 32. Two days later, more than 70 Black MLS players met via Zoom to discuss three objectives: creating a platform and voice to speak on all matters pertaining to Black players, demanding an increased representation of Black officials in the league office and MLS Players’ Association, and to create impact programs in Black communities within local MLS markets.
“When we came together on that (Zoom) call, it was the most hopeful thing in one of the darkest weeks of my entire life,” Morrow told a small group of reporters Thursday on a conference call. “And I say that because it was like seeing my brothers and being in a room full of friends. And, you know, everyone was there for love and compassion. And it was really there that we decided that we needed an organization for ourselves.”
Morrow will serve as the organization’s executive director.
In addition to Morrow, who credits former D.C. United forward Quincy Amarikwa as the original visionary, the group includes Nashville SC’s Jalil Anibaba, New York City FC goalkeeper Sean Johnson, Chicago Fire FC’s CJ Sapong, Colorado Rapids forward Kei Kamara, Portland Timbers’ Jeremy Ebobisse,
Philadelphia Union’s Ray Gaddis and Mark McKenzie, among others.
Conversations with MLS
Even before its official launch Friday, The Black Players Coalition of MLS has had multiple meetings with the league, Morrow said. The coalition has proposed to MLS actions including bias training for employees and club staff, Black cultural education and hiring a chief diversity officer.
Morrow, with the assistance of D.C. United goalkeeper Earl Edwards Jr., has spearheaded meetings with the league. Edwards has also led conversations with the MLS Players’ Association, with Amarikwa assisting as a consultant.
“Those conversations (with the union) are good,” Amarikwa said. “They’re ongoing. I think there’s been a lot of strides happening that are in alignment with the guys.“
Morrow said The Black Players Coalition has also proposed programs for introducing soccer to Black communities in MLS markets, as well as funding for charities chosen by the players.
MLS released a statement Friday morning in support of The Black Players Coalition:
“MLS proudly recognizes and supports the Black Players Coalition of Major League Soccer – a group of players who today, on Juneteenth, have established themselves as influential change leaders,” the release said. “The League looks forward to continued and longstanding collaborations with the Black Players Coalition of Major League Soccer through efforts aimed at developing the game in Black communities, prioritizing diversity, and addressing implicit bias through league-wide cultural and educational initiatives.”
The Black player’s voice
NYCFC goalkeeper Sean Johnson said the rage and frustration for Black players, including himself, has been ongoing, and left Black players feeling hopeless. With the coalition, the platform to express those emotions now exists.
“For so long, being a player playing in this league for 11 years now, it felt as if there were moments where you didn’t want to speak up,” Johnson said. “You felt you weren’t represented. But then coming together, slowly building to over 70-plus players … there was a sense of hope.”
Nashville center back Jalil Anibaba took it a step further.
“We’ve always had somebody else telling us how we should feel, telling us how we should act or shouldn’t act,” Anibaba said. “And if we do act, or speak in a certain way, X, Y and Z could potentially happen to us – and most often does. So, this is an opportunity for us to be able to come together and support each other, of course, but to be able to tell the world what is happening to us – good, bad or irrelevant.”
Moving forward
With the league returning to play with the MLS Is Back Tournament starting July 8 and many Black players reporting to its Orlando site June 24, the group expects conversations and action plans to continue.
Morrow said the players coalition won’t settle for league slogans and statements, but it won’t be an instant fix.
“A lot of Black leaders have always told us that the arc of the moral universe bends towards justice. But it doesn’t bend on its own,” Ebobisse said. “It’s gonna be a long uphill battle that’s going to have ebbs and flows and it’s going to go in different ways.
“But, our organization is here for the long run, and we hope that our partners and individuals on the ground support us and also find ways for themselves to get involved on a daily basis.”