Gregg Popovich has not been one to hold his tongue when speaking about social issues within this country. It’s February which mean it’s black history month, in which we celebrate the African-American culture.
Coach Pop has been vocal within the past few months about the presidential election, the banning of refugees and immigrants, and other economic issues.
During an interview with the San Antonio Express-News, Coach Pop spoke his mind on what Black History month means to this country, and the work that we still have left to do.
“Well, it’s a remembrance, and a bit of a celebration in some ways. It sounds odd because we’re not there yet, but it’s always important to remember what has passed and what is being experienced now by the black population. It’s a celebration of some of the good things that have happened, and a reminder that there’s a lot more work to do.
But more than anything, I think if people take the time to think about it, I think it is our national sin. It always intrigues me when people come out with, “I’m tired of talking about that,” or, “Do we have to talk about race again?” And the answer is, “You’re damned right we do.” Because it’s always there, and it’s systemic, in the sense that when you talk about opportunity, it’s not about, “Well, if you lace up your shoes and you work hard, then you can have the American dream.” That’s a bunch of hogwash.
If you were born white, you automatically have a monstrous advantage — educationally, economically, culturally, in this society and all the systemic roadblocks that exist, whether it’s in a judicial sense, a neighborhood sense with laws, zoning, education. We have huge problems in that regard that are very complicated, but take leadership, time, and real concern to try to solve. It’s a tough one because people don’t really want to face it.
And it’s in our national discourse. We have a president of the United States [Donald Trump] who spent four or five years disparaging and trying to [de]legitimize our president [Barack Obama]. And we know that was a big fake. But still, [he] felt for some reason it had to be done. I can still remember a paraphrase close to a quote “investigators were sent to Hawaii and you cannot believe what they found.” Well, that was a lie. So if it’s being discussed and perpetrated at that level, you’ve got a national problem.
I think that’s enough.”
This is what makes Coach Pop one of the most well respected figures in sports today. He’s been a role model within a sport that is predominately black, and he understands that it’s his duty to stand up for what’s right. Many people/critics might say that he should just stick to basketball, and not speak on social issues. But when someone of his caliber use his platform to bring change, we have no choice but to admire him for that.
