Hey guys! If you haven't yet, please read Courtney Baumann's piece "FERENTZ DIDN'T TAKE A STAND WHEN HE SHOULD HAVE," in the Daily Iowan (http://daily-iowan.com/2017/09/28/baumann-ferentz-didnt-take-a-stand-when-he-should-have-2/). It's a fine example of a piece that whitesplains Black Lives out of a narrative completely. Sorry, not sorry.
Below is a copy of the email I submitted to the Daily Iowan Letter to the Editor personal email which contains the entire reply instead of the 300 word reply the website forces you to send. Enjoy! (And Go Hawks!) Hello, My name is Matthew Bruce, I am a Black student here at the University of Iowa, and this is my reply to the opinion piece titled "BAUMANN: FERENTZ DIDN'T TAKE A STAND WHEN HE SHOULD HAVE". This is a 500 word version of the 300 word version I sent online. I am sending this one via email because I feel very passionately about Kirk Ferentz's comments and its implications on Black Lives Matter, The University of Iowa, The Athletic Department, and the First Amendment Rights of Student Athletes (particularly Black) at the University of Iowa. It is also, if I may say myself, a very well written 500 words. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- RE: BAUMANN: FERENTZ DIDN’T TAKE A STAND WHEN HE SHOULD HAVE Kirk Ferentz, when asked Tuesday whether he would support any of his players should they choose to use the National Anthem to protest police brutality and all other consequences of institutional racism answered, in a number of words, no. Courtney Baumann’s opinion piece on Ferentz’s comments surrounding the topic was, while well intentioned, still ignoring the most important part of this entire story which is that in all of this, University of Iowa Employee(s) are using their position(s) to entrench the legacy of white supremacy in America by suggesting that Black Athletes should somehow have to sacrifice their right to free speech and expression when they hit the field. “This is the one time we put everything aside. We all dress alike, act alike, and we’re trying to do the same thing,” said Ferentz Tuesday. This language is drenched in the history of racism and sport in America; which is ironic as Ferentz was somehow trying to convey that sport has been an arena of inclusion historically. The truth is that historically black athletes have been forced to surrender their identities, their passion and (most importantly) their desire for meaningful change in the name of being able to compete. “I read this this morning that sports and politics are intertwined. I see the world a lot differently, I guess,” Ferentz said. To put it differently; you’re here to play football and ONLY to play football. Ferentz went on to suggest that racism was an issue akin to say, cancer, and that if athletes wanted to make a difference they should “use a platform where it makes a difference,” such as voting or community activism. Let us not lose the gravity of these statements. This is the opinion of a high level Athletic Official at the University of Iowa - the highest paid state employee in Iowa - and suggests one of two things: 1) That the Athletic Department and University of Iowa truly don’t believe football is an appropriate platform to promote narratives of change or 2) It doesn’t believe police brutality and the condition of black life in America are issues that need changing. It is obvious though, that the Athletic Department and the University use the football program as a platform to convey messages about politics and society: from farmers, to breast cancer, the children’s hospital and even your local public service heroes (Nebraska heroes game) there are plenty of causes which the Athletic Department deems worthy enough of dedicating time and resources towards recognizing and advancing: Black Lives Matter is simply not one of them. And neither are any movements, gestures, or behaviors that would suggest that racism is a problem which is killing black people and needs to be addressed. It is not that Kirk Ferentz, the Athletic Department and the University Community find themselves on the wrong side of history or politics, but that they all guarantee Black Lives will continue to not Matter. Baumann said that Kirk Ferentz failed to take a stand. I would argue that he very clearly did. Matthew Bruce
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