A piece by United Defender Austin Yearwood & BPA Committee Member Brandon Miller
New Mexico United is committed to amplifying Black voices in and around our New Mexican and footballing communities. Part of that commitment is utilizing our platforms for societal growth, creating a forum to listen and learn. To that end, we’d like to share the writings of United defender Austin Yearwood as he discusses what Black History Month means to him, and of Brandon Miller of the USL Black Players Alliance, as he discusses the incredible, important work that they are undertaking across the country. We hope you’ll read and carry their words with you this month and beyond.
Austin Yearwood, Defender, New Mexico United
Black History Month invokes an array of emotions for me. On the one hand, it’s a time to reflect on and appreciate the struggles and successes of Black men and women who have worked to create a better future for the Black community. And on the other hand, I’m struck with a persistent feeling of annoyance. Annoyance with the performative messages and influx of empty Black History Month posts from organizations just trying to check a box for their social media metric.
But nestled between those feelings, I find hope. Hope because there are people and organizations around me that are taking steps to rectify the long-standing inequality and injustices inflicted on the Black community. And while there’s no question the world is far from being equal, it’s important to recognize and highlight those who are creating positive change. Part of that change can be seen in the work being done by the USL Black Players Alliance.
In 2020 the BPA was created with the mission of cultivating diverse environments within the USL by creating an open dialogue with the league and empowering its members to use their platforms to affect change in their respective communities. Personally, the latter part of the mission can’t be overlooked because without it the message of minority inclusion doesn’t spread and action won’t be taken.
In the wake of the multiple horrific acts of violence against the Black community that occurred in 2020, it was difficult to find words that made sense of what I was feeling in a way that could be understood and heard by others. The BPA provided a safe space for myself and other Black players around the league to converse and share our thoughts and experiences. Through those interactions I was able to gain clarity on my emotions, which ultimately led to an opportunity to share my experience as a Black professional athlete in a player feature video.
Helping someone not only find their voice, but amplify it, is proof that the BPA’s mission is working. It’s proof that not only a league, but a world of minority inclusion is taking root.
Brandon Miller, Executive Committee, USL Black Players Alliance
The organic growth of the Black Player’s Alliance has been a truly inspiring story. What started as a collection of black players sharing their feelings around societal issues and how it has impacted them both in and out of the soccer world, has turned into an organization with immense potential and motivation. Our mission was developed simply by listening to the desires of the members that make up this amazing group. We have athletes from all around the country that come from every walk of life. Our goal is to inspire the next generation of soccer players and create an environment in our sport that provides them the best opportunity to succeed.
The big question, from the beginning, is how do we do that? We want to make an impact at every level of the game but we knew we couldn’t do it on our own. We knew we had to seek out other organizations that had similar missions. The collective voice has so much power and so we sought out those groups who wanted to stand by our side and help us fulfill our mission. The USL was receptive to our thoughts and feelings around the diversity issues within our league.
Individual clubs have reached out on their own to show support or collaborate in some way. Whether it is player features or fundraisers, the positive work we’ve been able to do in the soccer space has been exciting and it continues to motivate us to do more. But we are also aware that our mission goes beyond soccer. Organizations like Young Investor’s Society and Activote have helped us extend our reach beyond the field. As an organization, we realize that marginalized groups experience other issues besides what is going on in the soccer world. Addressing issues, like financial literacy or voting education, is important to our group and will continue to be a core component of the work we do.
In the end, we just want to help improve the sport of soccer for everyone involved. We acknowledge the power of sport and the impact it has on peoples’ lives. We recognize the importance and power of our own platforms and are dedicated to utilizing them in the most profound way possible. We are committed to developing pathways and environments that will elevate and uplift those who have historically been marginalized in the past. We look forward to continuing this mission in 2022 and for many years to come.
Learn more about USL Black Players Alliance HERE.
