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Wake Up and Win the Day!
 Recently,
at our WBCA convention, we had programming on
how we, as coaches, keep our student-athletes
socially aware. Our young people are more “woke”
than ever and some of them are directly impacted
by social and political issues and some simply
want to be involved. We had guest speakers and
experts walk us through strategies and explain
to us why it’s important that we have these
tough conversations with our young adults. I’ve
always been in favor of preparing student
athletes for life, not just after basketball,
but life outside of basketball. You can’t
positively impact the world if you don’t know
what’s going on in it.
This past year I sent out “Woke Night”
invitations to our team. Purely optional, based
on your own personal interest in the subject,
(with one exception being the “kneeling/National
Anthem” topic. That, we felt, was an issue so
prevalent that it had to be addressed with the
entire team and staff present.) This year we had
“Woke Nights” covering depression/mental health,
Title IV, self-esteem/empowerment, and sexual
harassment. The goal was to inform and educate
but in a way that elicited engagement and
genuine growth. I chose relevant topics that
affect or will impact our student athletes as
young adults and most important, young women.
I’ve never set out to influence anyone one way
or the other. I think it’s important that young
adults learn how to analyze information and form
their own views vs. others thinking for them. I
also think it’s important that they get their
information from sources other than Twitter or
Insta, so we used a variety of mediums to
accomplish this. Books, documentaries, current
movies, and even a Time magazine were our props.
For some of our players, it was probably the
first non-sports magazine they’ve ever owned.
The excerpt below is from a “Woke Night”
introducing our young people to the Silence
Breakers movement.
“Wake Up!!!!! Good morning Beautiful People.
Today our awareness introduces us to The Silence
Breakers, the courageous and fierce (mostly)
women and men who are speaking out against
sexual harassment and assault in the workplace.
Their voices and actions have had such an
indelible impact that Time magazine has named
them Persons of the Year. This recognition
singles out the person/persons who have been
most influential in the past year.
The #MeToo Movement was created in 2006 by an
African American activist. What started as a
Twitter trending topic has become a rallying cry
for sexual harassment/assault victims all over
the world. #MeToo is a safe place where victims
can share their stories, offer support, or just
know that they aren’t alone. WNBA Super Stud
Breanna Stewart joined the movement as well as
other popular athletes and celebrities, which
gave a whole different level of credence to the
cause.
“This year is an important reminder that the
world can be transformed from the ground up.”
What Time magazine did is legitimize this
movement - acknowledge the change,
transformation and shift in attitude that’s
occurred because of this movement. Victims with
voices have given voice to otherwise silent
victims. The beauty of this movement is women
are empowering other women....and most
important, young girls. Victims with voices have
given voice to otherwise silent victims. The
beauty of this movement is women are empowering
other women....and most important, young girls.
In your generation, you have been encouraged to
be strong individuals. In my generation and
generations before, this was not the case. There
have been other women who’ve tried to speak out
without the same positive outcome. (See Anita
Hill) The risks involved are life-altering. Fear
of repercussions as severe as losing your job
are at stake. If you’re a single mother, you can
imagine how scary that would be.
The Silence Breakers are as diverse as our team,
from various ethnicities, races, and
socio-economic backgrounds, but the one thing
they all have in common is they are
COURAGEOUS.
The reality of being a woman is the same, but
the risk each woman takes in speaking out
varies. When I was a 23 year-old police officer,
I was sexually harassed by my Sgt. I had to ride
alone with him on special assignments -
sometimes being in the patrol car 6-8 hrs
at a time with him while I listened to him talk
about his sexual exploits with Black women.
“Black women,” he would tell me. “You guys are
wild.” Or, “I like my coffee black and strong -
just like my women.” I had a female supervisor,
and I made a special request to no longer be
assigned with him because he made me
“uncomfortable.” She never asked for specific
details, even though I’m sure she knew, and my
assignments with him stopped. I didn’t know I
could report him. I was young, right out of
college, and I’m not even sure I knew it was
illegal for him to be saying the things he was
saying to me. I didn’t know the name for sexual
harassment. I also didn’t want to be known as
the “trouble-maker” in the department. I was one
of 7 female police officers and the ONLY African
American woman. I didn’t want to be the “angry
black woman” that couldn’t take a joke. So I
said nothing. I was silent.
The Silence Breakers have given YOU a voice to
be heard and a platform to be seen. The Silence
Breakers being named People of the Year is
unprecedented. This is an issue that will affect
you or someone you know in your lifetime, if it
hasn’t already. You are not alone. They are not
alone. WE are not alone.
The magazine is in your locker - I encourage you
to read about these amazing women and this
powerful movement. If any of you want to have
follow up discussion, I invite that as well, and
we can have a Woke Night at the house during
break. In the meantime, as always, I encourage
each of you to be aware of the issues that
affect you as young women. Remember, you’re
either part of the problem or you’re part of the
solution.
Stay Woke!”
Y’all stay woke too.
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