Black Players Coalition strives to create change in its league
Players throughout Major League Soccer have formed a new Black Players Coalition, announcing the establishment of the group Friday during the first league-wide celebration of Juneteenth.
The Black Players Coalition was established to offer a unified voice for Black players throughout the league. The coalition is also partnering with MLS to create anti-racist initiatives within the league and in communities in each MLS market.
“As we celebrate Juneteenth and the coming together of our coalition, we must remind ourselves that such progressivism was once met with vehement backlash,” the statement read. “May this reminder serve as a warning to us all that confronting systemic racism head-on will never be a smooth, constantly upward trending path, but rather a timeless battle that will force us to reinvent the very essence of our institutions.
“We hope our organization can be an extension of our ancestors’ sacrifice for the next generation to live in a more equitable society as we seek to forge our own path forward under one united voice.”
The formation of the coalition came as a response to weeks of nationwide anti-racism protests following the police killing of George Floyd. MLS players have participated in protests and vocalized a need for change, both within the league and beyond.
On Friday, the league and its individual clubs celebrated Juneteenth — the anniversary of the end of the enslavement of many Black people in the U.S. — for the first time.
The Black Players Coalition includes more than 70 Black players in the league. It is led by a board of 12 players — Ray Gaddis, CJ Sapong, Quincy Amarikwa, Kendall Waston, Jeremy Ebobisse, Sean Johnson, Bill Hamid, Earl Edwards Jr., Jalil Anibaba, Kei Kamara, Ike Opara and Justin Morrow.
Morrow, a Toronto FC fullback, will serve as the coalition’s executive director.
Orlando City striker Tesho
Akindele voiced his support for the coalition on social media on Friday.
The coalition received support from MLS, which released its own statement backing the players on Friday.
“Major League Soccer proudly recognizes and supports the Black Players Coalition of MLS — a group of players who today, on Juneteenth, have established themselves as influential change leaders,” the league statement read. “The league looks forward to continued and longstanding collaborations with the Black Players Coalition of MLS through efforts aimed at developing the game in black communities, prioritizing diversity and addressing implicit bias through league-wide cultural and educational initiatives.”
Internally, the Black Players Coalition will focus its efforts on issues like diversification of hiring, along with implicit bias training and cultural education courses for employees throughout the league.
In recent weeks, players have voiced criticism of the lack of Black leadership in MLS. In its 25-year history, only 3.2% of the 156 head coaches hired in the league have been Black. Meanwhile, there are only three Black owners among the 26 teams in MLS.
All the owners hold minority shares and only came on board in 2019 and 2020 — Houston Rockets star James Harden purchased a reported 5% share of the Houston Dynamo, Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson joined the Sounders FC ownership group at an undisclosed percentage level and Brooklyn Nets star Kevin Durant bought 5% of the Philadelphia Union with an option for an additional 5% purchase in the future.
The Black Players Coalition also outlined plans to expand its reach beyond the league. The group secured $75,000 in charitable funds through a partnership with the MLS Players Association, which it plans to redirect to initiatives that will provide educational advancement initiatives and mentoring programs to Black communities.
The coalition’s formation also represents a shift across all sports as professional athletes continue to take a stand against racism. In the German Bundesliga, players wore “Black Lives Matter” armbands and raised a fist in goal celebrations to show solidarity.
Across the U.S., players in the NFL and NBA have taken similar stances, pledging to take steps from kneeling during the anthem to raising money for new initiatives to combat racism.
The Black Players Coalition saluted the work of fellow athletes as they joined them in creating their platform for social change.
“We’d like to acknowledge all the other professional athletes standing up against racism,” the statement read. “We see you and you empower us. Whether you happen to be singing this tune alone, or supported by a group, we want you to know that we are with you. We are here to fight this battle together. We will be heard.”