As passionate and in tune with social issues as Muhammad Ali was and LeBron James along with other major African American sports figures are, blacks in collegiate athletics share in the exact same mission. In the deaths of Ahmaud Arbery, George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and Rayshad Brooks, the “Black Lives Matter” movement in stopping racial injustice and police brutality made it to the University of Alabama.
While coaches such as Nick Saban, Nate Oats and Kristy Curry have spoken out along with members of the administration staff, it has been the student-athletes who have been the most vocal on the matter.
The state of our country has struck a nerve with freshman offensive lineman, Javion Cohen – who recently changed his Twitter name to Black Lives Matter. The four-star from Central-Phenix City (Ala.) High School in this year’s signing class has posted and shared many statuses on social media, regarding the importance of the movement.
On Monday, Cohen wanted to know if anyone in the community would help to organize a peaceful protest or unity walk.
who in the community can help organize a peaceful protest/unity walk?
— BLACK LIVES MATTER (@cnoivaj) June 15, 2020
good morning to everyone who supports #blm, hope y’all have a great day ??.
— BLACK LIVES MATTER (@cnoivaj) June 14, 2020
On Friday of last week, Cohen made a stirring post to Twitter on people’s energy changing in terms of being excited to talk about football yet not being supportive when more important issues are brought to the table.
y’all can like the heck out of a football post but the moment i post something about black lives mattering, it gets 2 likes ??♂️. keep that same energy.
— BLACK LIVES MATTER (@cnoivaj) June 13, 2020
He is not trying to be offensive with his views by no means, but like the rest of the black race, Cohen just wants people to hear him out.
Other players like Chris Owens (offensive line) and Byron Young (defensive line) have also been adamant about using social media to speak out against injustice.
Change is coming from this generation whether you like it or not. Enough is enough.
— Chris Owens (@BGChrisOwens) May 31, 2020
How can you expect a peaceful protest when you have people getting flooded with rubber bullets, tear gas, smoke, and flash bangs.
Even when people peacefully protest in DC they still get bombarded…
— Chris Owens (@BGChrisOwens) June 1, 2020
V O T E. #BlackLivesMattters #NoJusticeNoPeace
— Chris Owens (@BGChrisOwens) June 6, 2020
People have been too comfortable for way too long. https://t.co/rZvCmSwShg
— Chris Owens (@BGChrisOwens) June 8, 2020
Everyone will soon understand that the time for change is now. Not later, but NOW. And there won’t be peace until we get that change. And every incident that happens tensions will continue to rise to the point where more and more people will do anything possible to be heard.
— Chris Owens (@BGChrisOwens) June 14, 2020
Me waiting on someone from The University of Alabama to make a statement. pic.twitter.com/9ZMyf6hYET
— Byron Young (@ByronYoung19) May 31, 2020
With the majority of popular college football athletes being black, there is nothing more they would want but to see this senseless act of violence end. Since childhood and elementary, everyone was taught the United States of America was the land of the free and home of the brave.
We were taught that this is supposed to be a country where everyone could have an opportunity to be successful, pursue dreams/goals, form opinions and most importantly, have a right to life.
With the murders that have occurred, Cohen and the rest of the Alabama team feels like this is not the America they were taught and something needs to be done about it.
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We are living in a time where this generation is wiser than ever before on so many platforms.
People no longer have fear to voice opinions on what they believe is right or wrong.
All Cohen wants is fairness, that and the understanding of everyone needing to fight for the cause of Black Lives Matter.
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Stephen M. Smith is the managing editor and senior writer for Touchdown Alabama Magazine. You can “like” him on Facebook or “follow” him on Twitter, via @CoachingMSmith.
