Black athletes are Black men and women first. The motivating factors behind those in the stands yelling racial taunts or carrying offensive signs come down to how they view a Black man or woman who they feel has something to offer that will benefit them personally or benefit the causes they publicly support. What type of reaction would Patrick Ewing receive from both schools if he switched school jerseys? Would the Villanova fans and students who yelled racist comments at Ewing do so if he wore a Villanova jersey? It’s the same Black man, but a different jersey. In both cases, the racist thoughts and beliefs about him are still there. When they are cheering the Black athlete representing their team, the racist feelings are still there, just suppressed for political correctness.
