![](http://d2fss5beqk4xh8.cloudfront.net/files/logos/20190206060714.png)
Reid It Out: Mizzou’s football team proves black athletes are just trophies
Black lives do not matter, but black dollars do. Thirty-two football players from the University of Missouri illuminated that fact when they refused to participate in any athletic-related activities until then president, Tim Wolfe,resigned.
Discrimination and prejudice against black people are ingrained in the history of the university and can be traced back to the 1980s. The recent protests are not a response to just one racist event, but a string of them, spanning nearly five years.
Students have demanded that university leaders address the issue of racial insensitivity on campus, but the only way to shake their biased attitude toward racism was to threaten their money.
According to CBS Sports, canceling the football game with Brigham Young University on Nov. 14 would have cost Mizzou a $1 million penalty.
When the black students from the football team released a Twitter statement on Nov. 8 saying they will not play until Wolfe resigned, the next day, Wolfe AND former chancellor, Bowen Loftin, did just that.
The fear of losing $1 million dollars is the only reason Wolfe and Loftin stepped down. The social and political economy of state universities is heavily tied to their athletic departments, especially football. Not to mention most of the teams are populated by black players.
In the words of sports sociologist Harry Edwards, “It looks like Ghana on the field and Sweden in the stands.”
The Mizzou football players withheld their talent, put theirscholarships on the line and used their high social status and economic leverage to drive the message home.
College athletes do not get paid, even though the money generated by their efforts on the field is pocketed by universities.
The Mizzou football team realized its worth and knew its stance on the issue would send a powerful message to administration.
This is a lesson to students everywhere seeking change within their universities. To see quick, effective change, you have tohit campus administrators where it hurts – their pockets. If you can find a way to obstruct a school’s financial gain, sadly, you will see instant change.
Get Top Stories Delivered Weekly
More thenewsargus News Articles
- CAMPUS CREW; What do you think about the new arrangement in the cafeteria?
- Welcome back Ram Family
- ‘Empire’ vs ‘Black-ish’
- A final Look Editor's Column: Leap of faith
Recent thenewsargus News Articles
Discuss This Article
MOST POPULAR THENEWSARGUS
![WSSU Rams Head Football Coach Relieved of His Duties](http://d3vsdfvkxh87qp.cloudfront.net/articles_images/o1/1556757175101/image.jpg)
WSSU Rams Head Football Coach Relieved of His Duties By Elijah Richardson
![Bennett College Loses Accreditation Despite Raising Sufficient Funds](http://d3vsdfvkxh87qp.cloudfront.net/articles_images/o7/1554324180907/image.jpg)
Bennett College Loses Accreditation Despite Raising Sufficient Funds By Elijah Richardson
![Smollett Investigation Continues To Be Unsolved and Difficult to Resolve](http://d3vsdfvkxh87qp.cloudfront.net/articles_images/v0/1554173738990/image.jpg)
Smollett Investigation Continues To Be Unsolved and Difficult to Resolve By Elijah Richardson
![Lady Rams look to reverse an abysmal 2014-2015 season](http://d3vsdfvkxh87qp.cloudfront.net/articles_images/z4/1449454079574/image.jpg)
Lady Rams look to reverse an abysmal 2014-2015 season By Demetrius Dillard
GET TOP STORIES DELIVERED WEEKLY
LATEST THENEWSARGUS
- Black Business
- WSSU Rams Head Football Coach Relieved of His Duties
- Controversial Wake Forest Tweet Sparks Outrage
- Bennett College Loses Accreditation Despite Raising Sufficient Funds
- Smollett Investigation Continues To Be Unsolved and Difficult to Resolve
- UREC Looks To Continue and Improve Student Engagement Through Physical...
- University Recreation To Hold Personal Training Pilot Study
FOLLOW OUR NEWSPAPER
RECENT THENEWSARGUS CLASSIFIEDS
OUTSIDE THE LINES
- Tips for Homeowners to Make Summer Home Projects More...
- When Planning International Travel, Measles Vaccination...
- We Can All Contribute To Cooling the Nation
- Women With Ovarian Cancer Explain Why They Support...
- Women With Ovarian Cancer Explain Why They Support...
- Navigating the Heat to Keep Power Bills Cool
- Navigating the Heat to Keep Power Bills Cool
- The EPA Can Help You Save Big On Energy Efficient...
- Cutting Summer Cooling Costs
- Cool Ways to Protect Yourself from Heat-Related Illness
FROM AROUND THE WEB
- Con el Programa de Ayuda Adicional de Medicare Más ...
- BookTrib’s Bites: Four Riveting Summer Reads
- Medicare’s Extra Help Program Helps More People Save M...
- New Artificial Intelligence Summit Series Kicks off With...
- Mike Bond’s Latest Thriller, CRUDE: Nuclear War is C...
- Subway’s 95-Foot-long Dip ‘N Slides Are Making a Huge Spl...
- Pharmacy Benefit Companies Are More Valuable Now Than Ever
- Marine Toys for Tots' Christmas in July Campaign Delivers...
- Dr. Calm's Expert Advice for Mastering Election Stress
- ABANDONED AT BIRTH Paints Vivid Portrait of the...
COLLEGE PRESS RELEASES
- Command Brand and Hannah Brown are giving away $50,000 to bring college students design dreams to life
- The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi Awards 2024 Fellowships
- Procter & Gambles Tide, Downy and Gain Lighten the Financial Load for College Students, Kicking-Off Second Annual Tide x Downy x Gain Scholarship Sweepstakes
- GradGuard Urges College Students and Families to Safeguard Their Investments in Higher Education
- MILLION STORIES LAUNCHES NEW SHOW THE FINANCE COUCH THAT ADDRESSES STUDENTS FINANCIAL CONCERNS