Los Angeles Dodgers l(Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
No Black Dodgers were featured in their Black Lives Matter video.
Following the death of George Floyd at the hands of the Minneapolis Police, the Black Lives Matter had a resurgence of support from all over the world. The sports world also reacted by showing their support for the cause and the Los Angeles Dodgers are no different.
On Thursday the team released a video compilation of various Dodgers players including former MVP and star-pitcher Clayton Kershaw. Also involved in the moving statement was Alex Wood, Gavin Lux, AJ Pollock, Justin Turner, Kike Hernandez, Joc Pederson, Ross Stripling, Walker Buehler and Cody Bellinger.
The only thing is … there were no Black players featured in the video.
This could have been on purpose, perhaps they wanted the non-Black players to show solidarity to their Black teammates. Perhaps it was an oversight and no Black players were available when the film was made.
Read the full Dodgers Black Lives Matter transcript below
For centuries, the Black communities lived in a different America. Instead of addressing racism, inequality and injustice, many of us just look away. Ignore the school to prison pipeline that criminalizes Black children, instead of connecting them to opportunities. It’s easy to say racism is a thing of the past, but it’s not, especially when Black people don’t enjoy the full protections afforded by the Constitution. As proud Americans, how much longer can we avoid an honest look in the mirror? Equality is at bat. Together we must learn and grow. We don’t know the exact answers, but we’re committed to working, listening and amplifing Black voices to be a part of the solution. There are organizations on the ground fighting for resources that the Black community deserves. And we’re here to support them. Each and every one of us can’t just look away because it’s uncomfortable. Loving this country means admitting it’s not the same for us all. Silence is no longer an option. I’m fighting for my teammates, and their families and their communities. That is why we must unapologetically say that Black Lives Matter. Quality is a team sport, the players of the Los Angeles Dodgers are committed to amplifying the voices of Black leaders and organizations who are on the ground fighting for equality, by matching fundraise from the “In This Together” t-shirts, we will proudly support the California Funders for Boys and Men of Color.
The Dodgers have a long history with the Black MLB community as they were the first team to include a Black player when on April 15, 1947, Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier and started at first base for the then Brooklyn Dodgers.
No one could accuse the Dodgers of being inclusive, that’s certainly not what we’re saying either. It’s just a little curious that no Black players were included in a Black Lives Matter video.