Rev. Jesse Jackson’s Impact on Sports
“When the playing field is even, the rules are public, the goals are clear, the score is transparent, the referees are fair, we can win!”
Throughout the decades of Rev. Jesse Jackson’s advocacy for racial and social justice, he has been an outspoken advocate for racial equality in and through the Sports industry. His own unique background as a High School and college athlete has positioned Rev. Jackson to have significant insights into the obstacles and opportunities presented to creating a level playing field in the Sports sector. From engaging major sports athletes in the front lines of the civil rights movement to confronting sports industry officials to demand change, Rev. Jackson has personally elevated the profile of the African American athlete, advanced African American leadership and management of teams, promoted minority team ownership and demanded African American entrepreneurial engagement in the sports sector. He also advocated for minority inclusion throughout the business of sports which directly led to numerous doors being opened for owners and executives such as Robert Johnson, Joe Dumars, Ozzie Newsome, Oscar Robertson and Frank Robinson to name a few.
After years of serving as advisor to such pioneering athletes as Jackie Robinson, Bill Russell, Jim Brown and Muhammad Ali, Rev. Jackson created a specific platform to provide a means for meaningful dialogue, engagement, resources and support. Therefore in 1999, Rev. Jackson formally founded Rainbow PUSH Sports in junction with the launching of the Black Sports Agents Association (BSAA) and the origination of the Diversity in Sports initiative with Bud Selig and Major League Baseball. Rev. Jackson ignited the Rooney Family to initiate the implementation of the NFL’s Rooney Rule, a staple of affirmative action and inclusion that has become the universal standard for sports and non-sports entities.
Following Rev. Jackson’s example of impact and leadership for the platform, Rainbow PUSH Sports now seeks to bring equality in and out of the game, and to encourage impact and influence in LIFE BEYOND THE PLAYING FIELD.
PROGRAMMING DESCRIPTION
Over the years, Rainbow PUSH Sports has been launced of a series of popular and unique national programs around a series of Sports related topics. Demonstrating the great potential, reach and influence of Rainbow PUSH Sports, a number of major Sports figures, Sports agents, former players, media figures, coaches, teams have all become supporters of Rainbow Sports and/or involved in participating in its various programs. These activities have been built form the regional areas of the Rainbow Push Satellite offices in New York, Atlanta, Los Angeles, Detroit, the San Francisco/Bay Area and PUSH Headquarters in Chicago, as well as major sporting events such as the NBA All Star Weekend. These Rainbow PUSH Sports events have included banquets, workshops, panels and other presentations which have created opportunities for insightful explorations by major sports experts, medical experts, financial analysts, and media figures in conversations around Sports for the Greater Good, leading to recommendations emanating from these panels which are advancing new policy directions in the sports sector.
In addition, Rainbow Sports has created numerous opportunities to celebrate the accomplishments of African American athletes including k-12 school athletes, college athletes, Olympic athletes and professional athletes. Through the annual sports banquet and special receptions numerous active and retired athletes have been recognized for their athleticism, scholarship, leadership, business acumen, community service and civil rights/human rights leadership. These recognition events have created an evergrowing network of supporters of Rainbow PUSH Sports.
Rev. Jesse Jackson’s Impact on Sports
“When the playing field is even, the rules are public, the goals are clear, the score is transparent, the referees are fair, we can win!”
Throughout the decades of Rev. Jesse Jackson’s advocacy for racial and social justice, he has been an outspoken advocate for racial equality in and through the Sports industry. His own unique background as a High School and college athlete has positioned Rev. Jackson to have significant insights into the obstacles and opportunities presented to creating a level playing field in the Sports sector. From engaging major sports athletes in the front lines of the civil rights movement to confronting sports industry officials to demand change, Rev. Jackson has personally elevated the profile of the African American athlete, advanced African American leadership and management of teams, promoted minority team ownership and demanded African American entrepreneurial engagement in the sports sector. He also advocated for minority inclusion throughout the business of sports which directly led to numerous doors being opened for owners and executives such as Robert Johnson, Joe Dumars, Ozzie Newsome, Oscar Robertson and Frank Robinson to name a few.
After years of serving as advisor to such pioneering athletes as Jackie Robinson, Bill Russell, Jim Brown and Muhammad Ali, Rev. Jackson created a specific platform to provide a means for meaningful dialogue, engagement, resources and support. Therefore in 1999, Rev. Jackson formally founded Rainbow PUSH Sports in junction with the launching of the Black Sports Agents Association (BSAA) and the origination of the Diversity in Sports initiative with Bud Selig and Major League Baseball. Rev. Jackson ignited the Rooney Family to initiate the implementation of the NFL’s Rooney Rule, a staple of affirmative action and inclusion that has become the universal standard for sports and non-sports entities.
Following Rev. Jackson’s example of impact and leadership for the platform, Rainbow PUSH Sports now seeks to bring equality in and out of the game, and to encourage impact and influence in LIFE BEYOND THE PLAYING FIELD.
PROGRAMMING DESCRIPTION
Over the years, Rainbow PUSH Sports has been launced of a series of popular and unique national programs around a series of Sports related topics. Demonstrating the great potential, reach and influence of Rainbow PUSH Sports, a number of major Sports figures, Sports agents, former players, media figures, coaches, teams have all become supporters of Rainbow Sports and/or involved in participating in its various programs. These activities have been built form the regional areas of the Rainbow Push Satellite offices in New York, Atlanta, Los Angeles, Detroit, the San Francisco/Bay Area and PUSH Headquarters in Chicago, as well as major sporting events such as the NBA All Star Weekend. These Rainbow PUSH Sports events have included banquets, workshops, panels and other presentations which have created opportunities for insightful explorations by major sports experts, medical experts, financial analysts, and media figures in conversations around Sports for the Greater Good, leading to recommendations emanating from these panels which are advancing new policy directions in the sports sector.
In addition, Rainbow Sports has created numerous opportunities to celebrate the accomplishments of African American athletes including k-12 school athletes, college athletes, Olympic athletes and professional athletes. Through the annual sports banquet and special receptions numerous active and retired athletes have been recognized for their athleticism, scholarship, leadership, business acumen, community service and civil rights/human rights leadership. These recognition events have created an evergrowing network of supporters of Rainbow PUSH Sports.