Black players from PWI’s should boycott Draft to help HBCU’s
The NFL has a Historically Black College and University (HBCU) draft problem. During the 2023 NFL Draft, out of the entire 32 teams, with 256 selections, only one Black player from an HBCU was selected. To reiterate, only one Black player from a HBCU was drafted!
Deion Sanders is correct, even though he is not the HBCU savior he portrays himself to be per Yahoo sports, I digress. It is shameful that 31 teams decided to pass on Black players from HBCU’s.
The NFL seems content with only drafting Black players from Predominantly White Institutions, also known as PWI’s. Black players who attend PWI’s should not be referred to as the same endearing term Joy Reid refers to Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, but they should boycott the draft next year in solidarity with HBCU’s.
However, since we live in an individualistic and capitalist society, we cannot count on Black players who attend PWI’s to help with the cause, like how the Black Menaces fight inequity at BYU and beyond.
A draft boycott by Black players at PWI’s would bring attention to challenges faced by Black players from HBCU’s and it would increase awareness of the current racial disparities between PWI’s and HBCU’s.
The top 10 players drafted were all Black players from PWI’s. Another staggering stat, 100% of players in the first round drafted came from PWI’s, and 81% of those players were Black players from PWI’s. The remaining 19% were cis-white men. This type of discrimination shows just how far the NFL needs to go with Black diversity.
The powerful protest could have a Kaepernick-like impact which could lead to increased support and funding for HBCU programs and the creation of more opportunities for HBCU players in the NFL.
Individual circumstances like family obligations or financial considerations should not matter in this endeavor, as Black HBCU players have marginalized priority over the Black players at PWI’s.
The NFL made a feeble attempt to close the disparity gap by conducting an HBCU combine where all 32 NFL teams attend. This dog and pony show was unacceptable because it’s literally the least the NFL could do.
Here’s what Black PWI players should demand:
- Create a HBCU only draft
- Create separate HBCU Supplemental draft
- Invite at least three HBCU players to the regular draft green room for first round
- Ensure at least one HBCU player is selected in the first round of the regular draft
- Confirm that a Black HBCU player will never be drafted last in the regular draft, as the title “Mr. Irrelevant” is demeaning and harmful to Black lives
Meeting these demands will show a true commitment to Black HBCU players by the NFL. The NFL hired former Attorney General, Loretta Lynch. She was the first Black woman Attorney General. Lynch is also the first Black woman to represent the NFL in a case against discrimination claims.
Surely, they can mee these simple and reasonable demands to enhance draft DEI efforts.
