OUR UNIQUE PROJECT
Manifestos in previous classes focused primarily on Colin Kaepernick, and the biased mass media reactions that immediately followed his protests. In ours, on the other hand, we aim to look at sports through a broader lens, and instead of focusing just on the mass media bias that is apparent, we look at the support that athletes have garnered through their activism, as well as criticism. We recognize mass media is always going to spin stories on these issues in ways that get them the most views, or give them something they aim to talk about, rather than always showing the true causes or effects on a movement. We are creating an online magazine rather than archiving videos, we feel this is the best way for us to present all the information we have, and be able to highlight comparisons and contrasts between athletes, corporations, and leagues when it comes to activism. |
Mission StatementWE ARE REDIRECTING THE NARRATIVE. Muhammad Ali. Tommie Smith. John Carlos. Lebron James. Colin Kaepernick. These are just a handful of examples of athletes who have used their platform of influence to raise awareness for a variety of social justice movements. We are witnessing this platform grow to new levels, and the corporate entities that pull the strings behind their respective sports are taking notice. The NFL’s funding of Players Coalition and Nike’s piggybacking of Kaepernick’s protest for advertising are just a few examples. THIS IS WHERE WE WANT THE FOCUS. The motivations of these corporations is not aligned with the athlete, but with their own profit-driven agenda. Our digital magazine will look to provide the necessary information on the entire scope of these athlete driven social justice movements. The movement itself, to the progress made by the athlete, and the often hidden corporate veil will all be discussed. BY PRESENTING ALL OF THE FACTS, THE DOMINANT DIALOGUE WILL NO LONGER QUESTION THE ATHLETES’ MOTIVES. WE STAND TO EMPOWER ATHLETES TO USE THEIR VOICE, WHILE CRITIQUING THE CORPORATE CO-OPTATION OF THESE MOVEMENTS.
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LIST OF DEMANDS
We demand starting a dialogue about athletes’ activism and the demeaning portrayal of their efforts by the news media. We also demand for a deeper look into the incentives of large corporations that latch onto athletes’ movements, often times for their own benefit. We demand visibility for the different reactions to athletes’ activism in order to show that the narrative is changing and athletes will not “shut up and dribble.”
We demand a shift in the narrative to focus the blame NOT on athletes who protest but to critique corporations that fund groups and use the platform for either economic gain as NIKE has or for leverage as the players coalition that is now funded by the NFL.
We demand people be more skeptical of the news they are fed and urge them do dive deeper in conversations about the criticism activists face as they are called unpatriotic or overly sensitive. We want to change the focus from the athletes themselves to instead the media outlets and corporations that take advantage of them for the political or economic profit.
We demand starting a dialogue about athletes’ activism and the demeaning portrayal of their efforts by the news media. We also demand for a deeper look into the incentives of large corporations that latch onto athletes’ movements, often times for their own benefit. We demand visibility for the different reactions to athletes’ activism in order to show that the narrative is changing and athletes will not “shut up and dribble.”
We demand a shift in the narrative to focus the blame NOT on athletes who protest but to critique corporations that fund groups and use the platform for either economic gain as NIKE has or for leverage as the players coalition that is now funded by the NFL.
We demand people be more skeptical of the news they are fed and urge them do dive deeper in conversations about the criticism activists face as they are called unpatriotic or overly sensitive. We want to change the focus from the athletes themselves to instead the media outlets and corporations that take advantage of them for the political or economic profit.
WHO WE HOPE TO REACH |
We plan to reach not only those involved in the sports world, but also those who are interested in activism and corporate realities. With the power of social media today, athletes have the ability to reach outside of their respective fan bases and influence anyone who is scrolling through their feed. That being said, we intend to create a project that reaches beyond sports fans and can impact everyone who sees it. Athletics are a universal entity, and we hope to draw an audience with different perspectives and backgrounds.
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