TOPLINE
The NBA is to donate $300 million over the next decade to boost economic growth in the Black community, through the establishment of a new foundation finalised by the league’s Board of Governors and the National Basketball Players Association, it announced on Wednesday.
Phoenix Suns players wearing Black Lives Matter shirts kneel during the singing of the national ... [+]
KEY FACTS
The newly established NBA Foundation is a charitable organization aimed at economically empowering Black communities, primarily through education and youth employment.
All 30 NBA teams will donate $1 million each, per year for 10 years, while an eight-person board of directors is also being set up.
As well as increasing “access and support for high school, college-aged and career-ready Black men and women,” the foundation will also assist local and national organizations that provide mentorship, training and coaching in NBA markets across the U.S. and Canada.
It will also deepen the NBA’s “commitment to racial equality and social justice”, the league said.
The restart of the league has been marked with players and coaches taking a knee during the national anthem to show support for anti-racism protests that swept the nation following the death of George Floyd in May.
Key background
The NBA has built a reputation over the last decade as America's "progressive" sports league. Some of the league's most famous stars have been outspoken champions of the Black Lives Matter movement in the wake of Floyd’s death, with some, including Russell Westbrook and Stephen Curry, joining anti-racism protests. Players have been backed by commissioner Adam Silver in their peaceful protests for social justice, who has said he won’t enforce decades-old NBA rules requiring players to stand during the anthem. The $300 million program suggests that the league and team owners are putting money behind their platitudes and are following in the wake of other leagues like the NFL, who's abrupt U-turn on punishing players like Colin Kaepernick for anti-racism protests was followed with a massive $250 million pledge to combat systemic racism. In June, NFL heavyweights Tom Brady and Drew Brees led 1,000 professional athletes in writing to Congress to demand an end to qualified immunity, a legal doctrine that they say protects police from being held accountable.
Tangent
WNBA players this week wore T-shirts showing support for Georgia Sen. Kelly Loeffler’s political opponent, after Loeffler, co-owner of Atlanta Dream, wrote a letter to WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert saying she opposes plans for the league to honor the Black Lives Matter movement. Players from five teams wore T-Shirt that read “Vote Warnock”.
Further reading
