COLUMN: Awaiting a sports fix, nows the perfect time for a tough conversation on race – Shelby Star

Without tough conversations, real solutions will also prove out of reach on matters of race and equality.

Willy Wonka may have been on to something in the famed movie, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Rarely leaving the confines of his candy factory, the fictitious candy man spent enough time inside that the ills of the world seemingly disappeared.

From chocolate and fudge to gumdrops, jelly beans, taffy and gooey gummy bears, any sweet treat ones heart desires can be found in a candy shop. Be careful though, as too much of anything can have unintended consequences cavities the most noticeable of those.

Sports can be considered a candy shop of sorts, allowing fans to lose themselves in daily displays of athletic brilliance. With every flip of the channel, theres an option for whatever taste one may have.

Football, basketball and baseball tend to get the lionshare of attention, but theres softball, car racing, tennis, golf, wrestling, competitive cheerleading, track and field and a host of other sports sprinkled in.

Unfortunately, since March such means of escape have been in short supply. With COVID-19 blossoming from a health concern into a fully involved pandemic, sports has taken a backseat in importance to the health and welfare of Americans.

Daily discussions have barely blipped the radar in recent months, with sporting events suspended far and wide. Instead of choosing all-area baseball and softball teams, salivating over the potential of a LeBron James-Giannis Antetokounmpo meeting in the NBA Finals or getting mentally prepared for the Euro 2020 soccer tournament, such has been limited to the business of sports and the means necessary to get the ball back rolling.

Without the distractions of the world sports included to occupy their time, many have turned to purging those items and habits obstructing one from becoming a better version of themselves. But as the world sought to mitigate the effects of coronavirus, another virus that has gone unchecked too long was permitted to rear its ugly head.

The killings of Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor and George Floyd each of whom are black have again ripped the blood-soaked band-aid off the scab that is racism in the American consciousness. Chants of No justice, no peace! have echoed through American cities, with protestors clamoring for fairness to prevail.

During previous instances in recent years of social unrest resulting from the unjust killings of minorities, the chants of protestors have been drowned out by the roar of crowds cheering their team to victory. With all athletic events short-circuited due to COVID-19, all eyes have shifted toward the cause of social justice and creating an environment for all to be on equal footing in all facets of American society.

The current wave is way different.

In the past weeks, countless celebrities in the sports world and otherwise have put their voices behind the movement, hoping to be engines of change on a national level.

The thorny subject has become all too personal on a local level as well, with recent Ashbrook graduate and Gardner-Webb football signee Kendall Massey being profiled while merely performing his job as a store clerk.

Over the course of a lengthy shift, the 17-year old was told by a customer that he got more ammo for my kind of people, yelled at for not having on gloves saying I might still have gas on my hand, blamed for the local Walmart being closed and asked why he wasnt elsewhere protesting.

Such is one of countless stories shared by minorities, including yours truly.

Racism has no place in America or elsewhere, regardless of age or socioeconomic status. All of Gods creatures should have the same opportunity to life, liberty and pursuit of happiness. All too often, though, some are not afforded that luxury.

Regardless of age, sports has often proven to be one of the greatest teachers, offering lessons good for a lifetime and revealing those of different races and religions can come together to do great things.

Speaking often with current and former athletes, they refer to the locker room as a place of camaraderie and support, where a great many lifelong relationships have been forged.

In the wake of recent events, it could also be one of the places where dialogue on race is had while openly displaying the golden rule of treating others how we want to be treated. But right now, maybe its best we wait.

In grade school, when a disagreement needed a resolution, teachers would separate those in conflict to let them cool down before coming together to figure out how to move forward. With the candy store sports bolted shut, it offers the perfect opportunity to have tough discussions without the artificial sweetener.

Im as eager as anyone for the return of athletic competition. Normalcy would do us all a lot of good, and the crack of a bat, sight of a beautiful pass or breathtaking goal is a step in the right direction. But when family business is on the table, sports in all its candy-coated glory would certainly diffuse the situation but would it help bring a resolution?

Currently, were in a race to find a vaccine in hope of warding off the next COVID-19 outbreak. Fortunately, no miracle cure is needed to stop racism, only a change of heart.

Remember, were all in this together.

You can reach Joe Hughes at 704-914-8138, email jhughes@gastongazette.com and follow on Twitter @JoeLHughesII.

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COLUMN: Awaiting a sports fix, nows the perfect time for a tough conversation on race - Shelby Star