Another Sign Change Might Be Real This Time: SEC Tells Mississippi to Dump Confederate-Themed State Flag
By Ken Reed
The Southeastern Conference (SEC) is the beast of college football, which means it’s the beast of college athletics.
For decades, the SEC has wielded a ton of power in SportsWorld. The SEC has also long been a bastion of conservative, old-school ideology.
So, when SEC commissioner Greg Sankey announced that the state of Mississippi could lose all SEC championship events unless it changes the state flag, which currently includes a Confederate symbol, it becomes increasingly clear that the country as a whole might be serious about making bold, progressive changes when it comes to racism and social justice.
“It is past time for change to be made to the flag of the State of Mississippi,” said Stankey in a statement. “Our students deserve an opportunity to learn and compete in environments that are inclusive and welcoming to all.”
SEC members Mississippi and Mississippi State both support the effort.
“Mississippi needs a flag that represents the qualities about our state that unite us, not those that still divide us,” said University of Mississippi Chancellor Glenn Boyce and athletics Vice Chancellor Keith Carter in a joint statement.
That’s a good, strong statement.
But while they are at it, both Boyce and Carter should think about changing their university’s nickname: Rebels. Rebels is a term that originally described Confederates and the Rebel Yell was a battle cry used by Confederate soldiers.
I would suggest to Boyce and Carter that as long as your school is known as the Ole Miss Rebels, the University of Mississippi will remain a divisive institution, not one that unites all Mississippians — and Americans in general — by providing an inclusive and welcoming environment to all.
— Ken Reed, Sports Policy Director, League of Fans
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Media
"How We Can Save Sports" author Ken Reed appears on Fox & Friends to explain how there's "too much adult in youth sports."
Ken Reed appears on Mornings with Gail from KFKA Radio in Colorado to discuss bad parenting in youth athletics.
“Should College Athletes Be Paid?” Ken Reed on The Morning Show from Wisconsin Public Radio
Ken Reed appears on KGNU Community Radio in Colorado (at 02:30) to discuss equality in sports and Title IX.
Ken Reed appears on the Ralph Nader Radio Hour (at 38:35) to discuss his book The Sports Reformers: Working to Make the World of Sports a Better Place, and to talk about some current sports issues.
- Reed Appears on Ralph Nader Radio Hour League of Fans’ sports policy director, Ken Reed, Ralph Nader and the New York Times’ Tyler Kepner discussed a variety of sports issues on Nader’s radio show as well as Reed’s updated book, How We Can Save Sports: A Game Plan. Reed's book was released in paperback in February, and has a new introduction and several updated sections.
League of Fans is a sports reform project founded by Ralph Nader to fight for the higher principles of justice, fair play, equal opportunity and civil rights in sports; and to encourage safety and civic responsibility in sports industry and culture.
Vanderbilt Sport & Society - On The Ball with Andrew Maraniss with guest Ken Reed, Sports Policy Director for League of Fans and author of How We Can Save Sports: A Game Plan
Sports & Torts – Ken Reed, Sports Policy Director, League of Fans – at the American Museum of Tort Law
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