Alabama football joined this week for a team collective statement against racism, brutality and violence. Senior offensive lineman Alex Leatherwood wrote the essay, which was read on camera by a collection of the biggest names in the Tide, including coach Nick Saban.
The video, which is just over two minutes long, was posted on Thursday from Alabama’s official Twitter, Instagram and Facebook soccer accounts with the message: “At this point in history, we cannot remain silent.”
According to AL.com, the decision to publish the video came after the team’s video calls “with prominent black voices, including Condoleezza Rice, Charles Barkley and Stephen A. Smith.” Tide players were challenged to use their platform for good and responded with a message of unity, asking for more listening and understanding from people of different races and backgrounds.
“We are a team, blacks, whites and browns. We are brothers, we represent ourselves, our families, our cities of origin, our university and our country,” the team collectively states at the beginning of the video, before establishing the team’s goals. contribute to “build a better and fairer future”.
Players involved in the video include Leatherwood, quarterback Mac Jones, defensive defender Patrick Surtain II, wide receiver DeVonta Smith, linebacker Josh McMillan, wide receiver Jaylen Waddle, linebacker Dylan Moses, defensive lineman DJ Dale and many, many more. Saban was the only coach to contribute to the video essay, but his presence is felt in the video through multiple appearances.
At the end of the video, several players echo the essay’s final statement: “Because all lives cannot matter until black lives matter.”
