Raptors continue to use their platform to push for social change

By Lindsay Dunn

The Toronto Raptors have not been shy about where they stand when it comes to racial and social injustice.

On a sunny Thursday morning on July 9, two large buses carrying the defending 2019 NBA Champions pulled up to Walt Disney World. Draped across the sides of the bus the worlds ‘Black Lives Matter’

During practice the players and coaches wear shirts with the same staement. The teams backdrop behind the players and coaches when they speak, along with ‘We The North’ are the words ‘Black Lives Matter.’

View this post on Instagram

Leading by example

A post shared by Toronto Raptors (@raptors) on

For many players not only where they are concerned for their health going to play basketball in a state where the COVID-19 numbers continue to skyrocket, but they didn’t want basketball to take away the focus of the racial and social justice movement happening not only in the USA but around the world.

On Monday, the team announced they had named John Wiggins the Vice-President for Organizational Culture and Inclusion for the Toronto Raptors.

“This position has the opportunity to directly impact change. That’s what excited me so much about the role – the chance to impact change directly in my organization, my community and my country,” Wiggins said in a release.

“As an organization, we’re uniquely placed to do that. We are the Raptors, and we are MLSE … For me, change is actionable. I don’t want to just say things. They must be doable. I have a position of power, and I want to do powerful things.”

The team says that Wiggins, who helped launch Canada’s first G League franchise the Raptors 905, will lead a group that is drawn from all parts of the organization to address social injustice, inclusion and equity and political reform.

“We want to effect change on a global scale, and that has to begin at home,” Raptors President Masai Ujiri explained.

“John knows this community and he knows the people who live in this community. He understands how to get things done and how to build consensus.”

The reboot of the Raptors season on August 1 against the Lakers will look different for a number of reasons. Because of the pandemic the team is forced to play in a bubble-like scenario in Walt Disney World with the other teams vying to get the Larry O’Brien trophy at the end of the season. There will be no fans, no home court advantage, nothing.

View this post on Instagram

Silence is not an option.

A post shared by Toronto Raptors (@raptors) on

It was announced earlier that ‘Black Lives Matter’ will be painted along the courts, and players for the first time will be able to put something besides their name on the back of their jersey. They were given 29 NBA-approval social justice phrases to choose from. This hasn’t come without controversy from the players as many, including LeBron James and the Raptors Norman Powell, were not happy that the players were not consulted about the option.

“I was really disappointed in the options that were given to us first and foremost. I feel like with a topic like this fighting for social justice that we were boxed-in to a list of 28 or 29 sayings,” Powell told the media during a virtual press conference.

“It was really unfortunate because we have a lot of guys in this league who have been using their voice, and we’re really excited to be able to change our last names and put a quote there that represents where we stand and what we want to say and how we feel about this… I felt like the list was very cookie-cutter.”

Here are a few of the options we know the players have chosen:

Patrick McCaw

“Out of the options they gave us I chose ‘Say Their names.’ For the people that have been affected by social injustice and racism. There are so many names from past years on to now and now is the most pivotal time in history right now to make a change and do better for our community.”

Rondae Hollis-Jefferson

“I decided to wear ‘speak-up’ on the back of my jersey. It sticks out for me personally because I think a lot more of us on this platform should speak up and say something especially if they believe in it.”

Norman Powell

“With that being said I chose to put ‘Black Lives Matter’ I felt like that was the most radical saying that spoke to where I stand on this.”

Malcolm Miller

“I’m choosing ‘Black Lives Matter’ because I believe it’s an important movement.”

View this post on Instagram

Register to VOTE!

A post shared by nick nurse (@thenicknurse) on

On Saturday, members of the Raptors appeared in a video posted on Head Coach Nick Nurse’s Instagram encouraging Americans who live in Canada to register to vote this fall in the Presidential Election.

Nurse, as well as the NBA coaches, have been hosting weekly virtual meetings to discuss how they can help continue the message and education about racial and social injustice.

For the Raptors, they have a player sub-committee that is led by Kyle Lowry, Marc Gasol and Fred VanVleet. The purpose of the committee is so other players can talk to them about racial and social justice matters.

Top Stories

Top Stories

Most Watched Today