Jerod Mayo has shared his perspective on the contentious difficulty of racism after being introduced as the primary black coach of the NFL’s New England Patriots.
Mayo, who labored as a linebacker with the group from 2008 to 2015, has undeniably ascended to new heights in his place with the Patriots.
Jerod Mayo Tackles Racism In Sports
But his new position – the primary Black coach, to be exact – is an achievement in itself.
On Friday (January 12), the group introduced that Mayo would substitute Bill Belichick, per NBC Sports, making him the fifteenth Patriots coach within the franchise’s historical past.
In his capability as a person of coloration in a predominantly white business, it’s comprehensible why reporters at Wednesday’s (January 17) press convention had been eager to get his tackle the feat and touch upon the dynamics of sports activities and racism.
The 37-year-old touched on racial points after CEO Robert Kraft‘s comment about not seeing coloration with regards to hiring expertise for the group.
“I’m really color blind,” Kraft defined, per Sports Illustrated. “I want to get the best people I can get. I chose the best head coach for this organization. He happens to be a man of color. But I chose him because I believe he’s best to do the job.”
Robert Kraft introduces Jerod Mayo because the fifteenth head coach in Patriots historical past. pic.twitter.com/ZypBCSI25E
— New England Patriots (@Patriots) January 17, 2024
Unlike Kraft, Mayo Says He Sees Color
Mayo, then again, felt compelled to dive deeper into the matter by seemingly contending that those that don’t see coloration aren’t in a position to see racism when it’s taking place in entrance of them.
“You better believe being the first black head coach here in New England means a lot to me,” Mayo mentioned. “I do see color because I believe if you don’t see color, you can’t see racism.”
“I do see color, because I believe if you don’t see color you can’t see racism.”
Jerod Mayo on being named the primary black head coach in Patriots historical past. pic.twitter.com/toTTJ6CrB3
— New England Patriots (@Patriots) January 17, 2024
When Mayo says he sees coloration, he doesn’t seem like implying any type of discrimination or bias.
He’s confronting the fact of society, acknowledging that persons are handled in a different way based mostly on their pores and skin coloration.
“Whatever happens, Black, White, disabled person – even someone with disabilities, for the most part people are like – when they’re young, they kind of make the spot hot. Younger people know what that means. But what I would say is, no, I want you to be able to go up to those people and really understand those people. It goes back to whatever it is, Black, White, yellow, it really doesn’t matter, but it does matter, so we can try to fix the problem that we all know we have.”
His assertion indicated an consciousness of the fact that coloration blindness (as Kraft would name it) doesn’t remove racism.
Instead, it usually serves as a device for ignoring or disregarding the systemic prejudices and discrimination that folks of coloration face.
Mayo’s acknowledgment of the problem of racism is as vital as his appointment.
His ideas on racism reveal that he’s not an individual who might be pushed round at his new job. By distinction, he’s somebody who dares to confront essential points head-on.
#Patriots proprietor Robert Kraft struggled to pronounce considered one of Jerod Mayo’s brother’s names:
“It’s one of those black names. I’ll help you with that.” 😂😂pic.twitter.com/2CpYxZduqh
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsReplace) January 17, 2024
RELATED: Not Again! Social Media Reacts To The Dallas Cowboys Being Eliminated From The NFL Playoffs
Discussion about this post