US Major Leagues Celebrate Black Changemakers, History & Communities

February 11, 2022 

In celebration of Black History Month (BHM) in the US, we’re highlighting partners and initiatives from our network that are advancing equality and social change through and in sport. This week, we’re focusing on our founding supporters, MLB, MLS, NBA, NFL, NHL and the WNBA, who are running a range of activations and initiatives to celebrate Black History Month and Black excellence.

MLB

Last year Major League Baseball committed up to $150,000 to increase black representation in baseball. This BHM, its teams are celebrating Black history and players through a range of initiatives. The Cincinnati Reds, for example, are honoring African American accomplishments throughout history and are conducting virtual school visits to discuss baseball’s role in the civil rights movement and the integration of the game. The Reds Community Fund will also host a virtual panel discussion on diversity initiatives.

In addition, the league launched a nationwide digital learning initiative for high school students. The Black History Month Challenge powered by social impact educator EVERFI features topics curated to highlight the spirit of the Black community and aims to spark conversations about social justice. 

Minor League Baseball (MiLB) launched an outreach program focused on the Black community. Called ‘The Nine’, it honors and celebrates the historic impact of Black baseball pioneers and civil rights leaders. The Nine is named for the number that pioneer Jackie Robinson - the first African American player in the MLB's modern era - wore during his only season playing in MiLB. 

MLS 

Major League Soccer is running a series of programs emphasizing and amplifying awareness, education and celebration surrounding Black culture. As part of the league’s continued efforts to bring awareness to the significant contributions of Black Americans, foster more inclusive and equitable communities and drive positive social change, MLS is highlighting and continuing conversations on systemic racism and injustices and providing educational resources and programming. 

Returning for its second year, the Soccer For All series continues to amplify underrepresented communities. The season-long program conducted by MLS WORKS (its social responsibility platform) is collaborating with "Pitch Black," an employee resource group for Black staffers, to shine a light on the key issues facing the Black community. 

MLS is also part of the Black History Month Challenge with EVERFI, which will help students across the US better understand the Black experience through education. Students who complete the 30-minute course and submit a short essay are entered in a contest for a chance to win a $2,500 scholarship.

NBA 

The National Basketball Association continues to take a leading role in highlighting the issues on social justice within the US. Through its Social Justice Coalition, it is committed to fight against racial inequality. In a recent podcast, James Cadogan, Executive Director of the NBA Social Justice Coalition highlighted the public’s need for progress and how it’s great to see. 

“For folks who are busy with their day jobs and also concerned about racial and social justice in America or around the world, I think our job has to be to keep them engaged, to show them that it is worth it.” 

Teams are running BHM activations across the league. For example, the Charlotte Hornets has partnered with health insurance provider Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina for a fourth year to hold a variety of in-person and virtual experiences throughout February. Conversations are focused on raising awareness about the positive impact health has on quality of life and the importance of reframing conversations about mental health in the Black community.

NFL 

National Football League teams are reflecting on key moments in history and on the accomplishments of Black pioneers in the sport. The Seattle Seahawks’ Tyler Lockett, explored the historical impact of the Tulsa race massacre that took place on May 31 and June 1 in 1921. A video hosted on the NFL 360 platform revisits the devastating events when mobs of White residents, some of whom have been deputized and given weapons by city officials, attacked and killed many Black residents and destroyed homes and businesses of the Greenwood District in Tulsa, Oklahoma. It features one of the survivors of the massacre.

The Denver Broncos highlighted five trailblazing former Broncos players and coaches: Gene Mingo, pro football’s first Black kicker, Marlin Briscoe, modern pro football’s first Black starting quarterback, Walter Highsmith, pro football’s first Black starting center, Charlie Lee, the Bronco’s first Black coach and Eric Studesville, the Bronco’s first head coach.

NHL 

National Hockey League and NHLPA (National Hockey League Players' Association) are celebrating the contributions and stories of Black trailblazers in hockey with 28 days of storytelling across their social and digital platforms. The daily stories will highlight numerous men and women and their career milestones, achievements and awards, as well as hockey organizations committed to making the game a more diverse and inclusive space. 

On February 10, the first episode of NHL Bound was released and followed Duante' Abercrombie and Nathaniel Brooks, two Black hockey coaches chasing their dream to work in the NHL. The weekly series shows their participation in the Arizona Coyotes' first-ever coaching internship program, dedicated to creating a deeper pool of diverse talent. Across the first four episodes, viewers will get a behind-the-scenes look at the Coyotes' management and coaching staff operations as well as Abercrombie's and Brooks' personal dedication, sacrifices and passion to shatter stereotypes and earn their place behind an NHL bench. 

BHM programming is part of Hockey Is For Everyone, a year-round NHL and NHLPA initiative celebrating diversity and inclusion, as well as the numerous hockey fans that represent every race, color, religion, national origin, gender identity, age, sexual orientation, socio-economic status and those with disabilities. Since 1995, when 'NHL Diversity' was founded, the League has celebrated Black achievement in hockey with events, observances, youth hockey tournaments, and original programming.

WNBA 

The Women’s National Basketball Association, a leader in racial equality and socical justice advocacy, is celebrating Black Girl Magic with a focus on young women and girls around the world who are breaking boundaries and making history. They are highlighting incredible women across various spaces who are making a profound impact in their communities.

CaShawn Thompson, an American Black cultural pioneer, created the concept of ‘Black Girls are Magic’, which sprung from her life as a little girl growing up with her mother, grandmother and aunts. The phrase became widely popular in 2013 when she began using the phrase online (which was later shortened to the hashtag #BlackGirlMagic) to uplift and praise the accomplishments, beauty and other qualities of Black women. The league is calling on audiences to celebrate in the same fashion by asking them to post about and highlight the Black women in their lives who have #BlackGirlMagic.

The teams of the WNBA are also running a wide range of localized events celebrating Black history and culture.