Wisconsin's Nigel Hayes passionately speaks out against racial inequality
One of college basketball’s most candid athletes spoke out against racial inequality on Wednesday night after police shootings in Tulsa and Charlotte sparked widespread outrage and protest.
Wisconsin forward Nigel Hayes began a barrage of Tweets with one referencing the growing debate over racial bias in policing.
Racism towards black people isn't getting "worse", it's getting filmed and shared for all to see what actually goes on. #BlackLivesMatter
— Nigel Hayes (@NIGEL_HAYES) September 21, 2016
Hayes’ tweet coincided with intense, violent demonstrations in downtown Charlotte over the shooting death of Keith Lamont Scott the previous night. Police claim Scott, 43, wielded a gun and refused to obey orders, but Scott’s relatives insist he was unarmed and holding only a book.
Only days earlier, an unarmed black man whose vehicle stalled in the middle of an Oklahoma road was killed by an officer. Just before the shooting, 40-year-old Terence Crutcher can be seen in police video walking away from officers and toward his SUV with his hands raised above his head.
When some of Hayes’ Twitter followers took issue with his initial tweet, the Wisconsin forward stood his ground and responded passionately and eloquently.
Once black lives ACTUALLY matter, then say that.
Loving my mom doesn't mean I hate yours.#BlackLivesMatter https://t.co/Xx03PaH7rM
— Nigel Hayes (@NIGEL_HAYES) September 21, 2016
I've seen WHITE people SHOOT at police officers with assault rifles AND live…
The only difference is color. https://t.co/I51oAaMhlf
— Nigel Hayes (@NIGEL_HAYES) September 21, 2016
No they don't. They want their lives to matter. It's in the name of the hashtag. https://t.co/zyU8FXpsnB
— Nigel Hayes (@NIGEL_HAYES) September 21, 2016
He could've 50 warrants. I see white men with warrants get detained alive all the time. Why not black men? https://t.co/oeMVQV6nTx
— Nigel Hayes (@NIGEL_HAYES) September 21, 2016
He could've moonwalked for all I care, still doesn't mean you kill him.
Again, white men SHOOT at cops and live.. https://t.co/i7lvYVdjDx
— Nigel Hayes (@NIGEL_HAYES) September 21, 2016
I urge you to view the Tulsa killing of #TerenceCrutcher.
Maybe a video is good enough to not be a "bailout". https://t.co/T2I2QxvkD9
— Nigel Hayes (@NIGEL_HAYES) September 22, 2016
Interesting.
White guy gets shot.
Shooter is in trouble immediately.Black guy gets shot.
"Well, what did he do?" https://t.co/vcx4uOIqLP— Nigel Hayes (@NIGEL_HAYES) September 22, 2016
You must live under the same rock with Patrick Star if you believe that. https://t.co/GSQ5PXEwxy
— Nigel Hayes (@NIGEL_HAYES) September 22, 2016
"But Nigel, more whites get killed by cops than blacks so you're point is wrong!"
There are more white people in the U.S., so obviously.
— Nigel Hayes (@NIGEL_HAYES) September 22, 2016
To White America, black athletes should only entertain. Once they speak on social issues, they've gone too far… https://t.co/z1YVy2fLoh
— Nigel Hayes (@NIGEL_HAYES) September 22, 2016
Hayes is the second prominent Wisconsin player this month to use his platform in hopes of educating people or instigating change. Last weekend, teammate Bronson Koenig drove to North Dakota to join fellow Native Americans protesting the construction of an oil pipeline that would threaten the local water supply and sacred tribal land.
This is not the first time Hayes has spoken out on a social issue of importance to him. Hayes previously has lambasted the NCAA for its amateurism policies that prevent high-profile college athletes from obtaining some of the income they help generate.
As the leading returning scorer on a preseason top 15 team, Hayes has sufficient stature to draw attention to his causes. The 6-foot-8 senior contributed to a pair of Final Four teams in 2014 and 2015 and nearly entered the NBA draft last spring after helping the Badgers get back to the Sweet 16.
It will be interesting to see if Hayes follows in the footsteps and LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony and Colin Kaepernick and continues to draw attention to issues of racial inequality. At least one member of the Wisconsin state assembly appears hopeful Hayes continues to speak out.
So dope to see @NIGEL_HAYES find his voice and @BronsonK_24's activism on the DAPL. Hottest duo in sports right now.
— Mandela Barnes (@TheOtherMandela) September 22, 2016
– – – – – – –
Jeff Eisenberg is the editor of The Dagger on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at daggerblog@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter!