Thursday, March 28, 2024

Diversity Expert on NFL Players’ Protest: Trump Doesn’t Want to Deal with it; What’s next?

Eric Reid #35 and Colin Kaepernick #7 of the San Francisco 49ers kneel in protest during the national anthem prior to their NFL game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Levi's Stadium on October 23, 2016 in Santa Clara, California.
Eric Reid #35 and Colin Kaepernick #7 of the San Francisco 49ers kneel in protest during the national anthem prior to their NFL game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Levi’s Stadium on October 23, 2016 in Santa Clara, California.

*Diversity & Inclusion Expert, Mary-Frances Winters, who has counseled organizations and spoken on racial and related issues for 30+ years, says the root focus on the player’s protest has gotten lost and politicized.

She offers more insight, AND what owners and players could do next.

The NFL players love America as much as anyone else, but they are saying the country is flawed. They are influential and want to use that influence to impact policy. The Trump administration wants to make it about something else so they don’t have to deal with the real issue.

In history, remember that those who have protested have been criticized – and worse – while they were in the fray. Afterwards though, we hold them up as heroes (i.e., Muhammad Ali, Martin Luther King Jr., Nelson Mandela). People who are courageous and challenge the system are not always popular, but that is how change happens.

For what’s next, there are many things the NFL players, owners and, frankly, all of us can do continue the discussion on racial injustice. These include convening dialogue sessions to examine the genuine issues, and supporting peaceful protests as a Right of American citizens.

The NFL owners, the Commissioner’s Office and all sports leagues can join more than 250 CEOs and work for diversity and inclusion to alleviate racial disparities. These on-going activities can include internships for young people, camps, etc.

Mary-Frances Winters - we can't talk about that at work

 

About Mary-Frances Winters:
Mary-Frances Winters is president and founder of The Winters Group Inc., a 33-year-old organization development and diversity and inclusion consulting firm with an emphasis on ethnic and multicultural issues.

Among her many awards and distinctions, she was named a diversity pioneer by Profiles in Diversity Journal in August 2007, and most recently received the Winds of Change award from the Forum on Workplace Inclusion in 2016.

Winters is the author of four books: We Can’t Talk about That at Work!: How to Talk about Race, Religion, Politics, and Other Polarizing Topics (2017), Only Wet Babies Like Change: Workplace Wisdom for Baby Boomers, Inclusion Starts With “I” and CEO’s Who Get It: Diversity Leadership from the Heart and Soul.

Winters is a “provocateur,” someone who provokes conversation and encourages dialogues – she is not afraid to have the tough conversations!

 

Mary-Frances Winters
President/Founder: The Winters Group
https://www.wintersgroup.com/about/

 

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