WOODLAWN — ESPN will present "An Undefeated Conversation: Athletes, Responsibility and Violence — a panel discussion on athletes, guns, violence and law enforcement" at the South Side YMCA on Thursday.
The discussion is the first in a series of conversations, forums and debates convened by ESPN’s The Undefeated — a website that focuses on sports and the African-American experience — to address issues at the crossroads of sports and race.
"Sports are great bridge builders in our country, bringing together people who think differently and live differently,” said Kevin Merida, ESPN senior vice president and editor-in-chief of The Undefeated. “Athletes, in greater numbers, have been saying they want to use their influence to drive social change. We hope this town hall will help push that conversation forward."
Panelists and guests scheduled to speak are Bulls point guard Rajon Rondo; White Sox Executive Vice President Kenny Williams; West Side native and NBA Hall of Famer Isiah Thomas; ESPN commentator and Chicago native Michael Wilbon, pastor Jolinda Wade, mother of Bulls guard Dwyane Wade; The Undefeated senior writer and Chicago native Lonnae O’Neal; University of Illinois-Chicago history professor Elizabeth Todd-Breland; and former Chicago Cubs outfielder Doug Glanville, who wrote a 2014 article for The Atlantic about how he was racially profiled in his own driveway by a police officer.
Panel topics include:
"Racial Profiling, Athletes & Police: A look at interactions between professional athletes and law enforcement, including personal experiences with profiling."
• Examples of athletes’ interactions with law enforcement and personal experiences with profiling.
• How interactions with police have shaped conversations athletes have with their children about law enforcement
"Sports & Activism: What responsibility or obligation do leagues, coaches, team officials, sponsors and agents have in supporting athletes who want to be more vocal on social issues?"
• A look at the support these entities — leagues, teams, — provide that would be meaningful to athletes.
• How concerned are athletes that sponsorship opportunities will be affected if they speak out?
"Guns & Violence: an exploration of the relationship athletes have with guns."
• Exploring reasons athletes carry guns
• What athletes think about the debate surrounding Second Amendment rights in the United States
• How can outspoken athletes have an impact on the problem of gun violence among young African-American men?
"A Call to Action: Athletes today have more power than at any time in sports history. Examples include the ousting of former LA Clippers owner Donald Sterling and protests at the University of Missouri."
• How much should we expect from professional athletes on social issues?
• How can these athletes collectively use their influence to create change?
• Examples of effective activism by athletes
Jemele Hill, co-host of ESPN2’s weekday sports discussion program "His & Hers," will moderate the forum.
Robert "Scoop" Jackson, an ESPN columnist and South Shore resident, is narrating the vignettes that will be shown during the discussion. He told DNAinfo that even though Chicago is the backdrop, the discussion will mainly focus on the things going on in America.
"Chicago will be a large part of the discussion, but it won't be addressed specifically," Jackson said. "This was already done before I got the call. I told them [The Undefeated] I will do whatever needs to be done."
Todd-Breland told DNAinfo that she was happy to be asked to be a part of the panel discussion.
"Chicago is an excellent place to have this conversation. Many of the issues the panel will talk about are on display here," Todd-Breland said. "The challenges and organizing in Chicago are pretty profound. Some of them stand out here more than other cities across the nation. This is a great place to have this discussion."
Despite original reports from ESPN that Chance the Rapper would participate in the panel discussion, the musician took to his Twitter account Tuesday to dispel what he called reports that were "not true."
I saw some publications report that I'll be at the @espn forum about athletes' and celebrities' responsibility to speak on issues. Not true.
— Lil Chano From 79th (@chancetherapper) August 23, 2016
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