NFL event meant for unity brings division

The Sept. 10 season-opening game between the Chiefs and Texans in Kansas City saw the NFL’s first attempt at a demonstration of social justice during the 2020 season, which was met with booing from the audience. WikiCommons

Amidst the social and political unrest that has taken place in the United States over the past few months, the return of sports may offer a pleasant sign to some avid and casual fans. 

That is, unless the social and political unrest crosses paths with that return. 

On Sep. 10, the NFL made its return with a rematch of the 2019 American Football Conference (AFC) Divisional playoff round matchup between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Houston Texans. Prior to game time, the two teams came together as one, linking arms at midfield in a show of unity in light of recent police brutality. However, many fans in attendance – who took up just 22% of Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City due to social distancing guidelines – began to jeer at the gesture.

“They enjoy the sports, but once they bring the social issues into the sports arena, they don’t want it,” said Chapman sociology professor Tekle Woldemikael. “They want it to be segmented – when you’re in the sports world, you’re not in the social world.”

Like many others, Chapman football head coach Bob Owens felt the fans’ dismissal of the Texans and Chiefs’ show of unity embodied the social tensions in America across the past few months. 

“The great thing about America is you get a chance to boo and you get the chance to vote the way you want to,” Owens said. “But sometimes it’s like sitting in front of a door, trying to brace yourself against a hurricane and believing the door isn’t going to blow away.”

While Woldemikael, who has taught a variety of courses including “Race and Ethnicity” and “Social Movements,” acknowledged the fans may want to disassociate social issues with a relaxing pastime like sports, but he was surprised at their unwillingness to understand each other’s perspectives.

“The fact that a lot of white, mostly older communities are feeling attacked is because something is missing in the interpretation of this material,” Woldemikael said. “I'm just surprised how people forget like they were born yesterday – like nothing has happened.”

 Additionally, he feels that conflict starts at the highest order of our nation.

“I think our leaders are failing us,” Woldemikael said. “They should be ahead of us, they should be coming out with messages on all sides – right, left, center – saying that they’re working on it.”

Woldemikael said this creates a disconnect between the American people and their government, a trend that can trickle down to individual institutions like Chapman. Despite this disconnect, Woldemikael sees progress being made toward diversity and inclusion within the university, crediting President Danielle Struppa for something he said he hasn’t seen in his 14 years at Chapman.

America might feel like Owens’ aforementioned ‘hurricane’ at this moment in time, yet Owens and Woldemikael both agreed that increased respect for one another can be the key to a somewhat harmonious existence.

“Because you respect me and listen to me, I’m civic towards you,” Woldemikael said. “I may defer from you or have a fight with you, but it’s a fight of ideas. You don’t have to remove me from the Earth because we disagree.”