Dear John,
|
"Amateur status" rules allow the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) to generate billions of dollars in revenue off the labor of Black athletes, while many of these athletes struggle to pay rent or even put food on the table.
Under the NCAA’s rules, college players can’t profit from their own image or likeness. Because of their rigorous practice and game schedules, student-athletes cannot work while under scholarship. A former University of Connecticut basketball player stated, “There are hungry nights” and “I go to bed and I’m starving.” And because of the rigorous demands the NCAA puts on Black athletes to generate revenue, many find it impossible to earn a degree while they play. In fact, Black student-athletes are significantly less likely to graduate than white student-athletes1. Not only are the NCAA's rules denying Black athletes fair compensation, they're robbing players of a chance to get a degree.
The NCAA is serving as a modern-day overseer — profiting from the free labor of Black people.
But we now have a chance to ensure Black athletes get paid for their work. The California Legislature is pushing for legislation that would allow college athletes to profit from their own names, images, and likenesses. The Fair Pay to Play Act is a step in the right direction for fairness in collegiate sports. The bill has already cleared some serious hurdles but still has a few more key votes ahead. Let’s make sure that every California legislator knows that Black athletes deserve fair pay!
The NCAA is doing everything in its power to keep the bill from being passed. NCAA President Mark Emmert threatened to ban California schools from NCAA championships if the Fair Pay to Play Act is passed. He is even trying to justify his threat, saying that allowing pay for some college athletes in California would make national championships unfair. This is a manipulative attempt to scare legislators into not passing the bill.
Passing this bill in California would pave the way for similar legislation throughout the country, advancing ethical treatment of our student-athletes. But the NCAA is concerned only about its profits and continuing to make billions of dollars off of the backs of Black student-athletes. They are expected to survive on no income while the NCAA, coaches, universities, and sports companies make billions of dollars off their labor. The football and basketball players — mostly Black students — bring in the most money for universities, brands, and TV networks2. This year, the NCAA’s March Madness was declared the most profitable postseason TV deal in sports, including professional sports3.
In 2018 alone:
- NCAA President Mark Emmert was paid a $2.4 million salary.
- Duke University’s head basketball coach was paid an $8.9 million salary.
- NCAA March Madness collected $900 million in profits and $1.32 billion in national TV ad revenue.
It is unacceptable for Black student-athletes to struggle when they bring in billions of dollars. It's time to stop the exploitation of Black student-athletes.
Tell the California Legislature to pass the Fair Pay to Play Act before the July 11 deadline!
Until justice is real,
Brandi, Rashad, Arisha, Evan, Johnny, Eesha, Samantha, Marcus, FolaSade and the rest of the Color of Change team
References:
- “College Athletes Don’t Have Time to Be Students,” Houston Chronicle, October 15, 2018, https://act.colorofchange.org/go/149119?t=8&akid=33979%2E4731121%2EmYv2Up
- “NCAA’s Amateurism Rule Exploits Black Athletes as Slave Labor,” The Undefeated, March 27, 2018, https://act.colorofchange.org/go/149120?t=10&akid=33979%2E4731121%2EmYv2Up
- “March Madness Is Most Profitable Postseason TV Deal in Sports,” Forbes, March 19, 2019, https://act.colorofchange.org/go/149121?t=12&akid=33979%2E4731121%2EmYv2Up
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