Name: Magic players have a message: Racism needs to stop
Brand: orlandosentinel.com
SKU: orlandosentinel-com-96
Availability: OnlineOnly

critic

Magic players have a message: Racism needs to stop

preview

AdvertisementBy Orlando SentinelJul 03, 2020 at 9:03 pmOrlando Magic players have been moved by social injustice, most specifically with the death of George Floyd, and the NBA stars say racism and inequality needs to stop.During the NBA’s COVID-19 shutdown, which began March 12, Orlando Magic players have not only kept up with the impact of the coronavirus, but they also watched the video capturing Floyd’s death while he was being taken into custody by a white Minneapolis police officer.AdvertisementThe ensuing nationwide protests and support for the Black Lives Matter movement were certainly not lost on Magic players.Magic sharpshooter Terrance Ross said Floyd’s death and the protests weighed “heavy on us all.”Advertisement“It hurts to see that it’s just now ... being brought to like the forefront of everybody’s discussions,” Ross said during a videoconference Thursday. “[There have] been things like this going on for so long. [There has] been footage of it. It’s been recorded, documented, everything. ... I don’t know, it’s just a frustrating time. Not everybody’s on the same page and you would think that with racism and injustice and equality that everybody would want the same thing, but it’s just frustrating.”Ross figures with a nation shut down due to coronavirus, racism and police brutality finally got the attention it deserved.“It [happens] all the time, I feel like, but I think with everybody at home ... they’re seeing this and they’re kind of understanding what’s happening and they’re taking the time out to understand and trying to learn more about what’s happening,” Ross said. “I think people are just becoming more enraged and more frustrated. It’s been a long time coming, but this is just something that’s been needed ... people to have their voices heard and [there] needs to be change.“It’s like a great awakening happening, but it’s just tough, man. It’s gonna continue to happen. I know growing up I had my own experiences and the way I was brought up, my mom would tell me certain things that I didn’t question, but you see it from a different perspective the older you get. Now I have a son and I have to tell him similar things as he gets older. It’s frustrating, but I hope change comes sooner than later. It’s been heavy on us all.”Magic point guard D.J. Augustin spent much of his young life in the Houston area, where Floyd lived. Augustin moved to the Houston area from New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina in 2005 and Floyd’s death hit home for him.“Not even [just] about Houston, but just period in the world and what’s going on in the communities, it had a major impact on me and my family and the people around me,” Augustin said.Players across the NBA used their social media platforms and marched in protests, supporting the Black Lives Matter movement.Former NBA player Stephen Jackson, who has become a high-profile social justice advocate, was singled out by Augustin.Advertisement“I know Stephen Jackson personally, so just seeing what he’s done by using his platform and the things he’s done with the protesting and everything he’s done ... I’m really proud of him to see him stepping up and doing those things,” Augustin said.Augustine and teammate Terrance Ross, both black men, shared their feelings on the social injustices and fellow Magic player Nikola Vucevic, a white European, voiced his concern, as well, on Wednesday.WeekdaysEvery morning, get the late sports scores and stories from the night before. &gt; “We all see and we all know that changes need to be made and it’s pretty obvious,” Augustin said. “I’m going to do whatever I need to do to help and to do my part. ... It’s not going to happen overnight. It’s going to take time, but we have to start somewhere.”Ross said there are plenty of things that can be done by players with high profiles like professional athletes, but it remains to be seen what the best ways will be to make a major impact.“I think that’s something we’re still trying to figure out ... to get our message across,” Ross said.Vucevic supports his teammates and the NBA’s focus on fighting racism when it resumes play later this month at ESPN Wide World of Sports on Disney World property.Advertisement“The response to what unfortunately happened with the death of George Floyd, I think the number of people that responded was very powerful and it was great to see. It was time for this to happen,” Vucevic said. “Social injustice has no place in this world, as it never should have had in the first place.“This is a good opportunity for people to educate themselves better ... to feel more comfortable speaking up on this. ... All of us. ... Being able to play will give us a huge platform to send a message of togetherness. ... We have a huge number of fans who will listen to us, ... so it’s on us to send out the right message. Racism has no place in this world and it’s time for this to stop.”Email Chris Hays at chays@orlandosentinel.com. Advertisement

AdvertisementBy Orlando SentinelJul 03, 2020 at 9:03 pmOrlando Magic players have been moved by social injustice, most specifically with the death of George Floyd, and the NBA stars say racism and inequality needs to stop.During the NBA’s COVID-19 shutdown, which began March 12, Orlando Magic players have not only kept up with the impact of the coronavirus, but they also watched the video capturing Floyd’s death while he was being taken into custody by a white Minneapolis police officer.AdvertisementThe ensuing nationwide protests and support for the Black Lives Matter movement were...

Magic players have a message: Racism needs to stop

No article scores yet.

CRITIC REVIEWS

PUBLIC REVIEWS