By Gregory Stevenson
There have certainly been Black athletes over the decades who risked their livelihoods and lives to speak out against injustices heaped upon Black people, including Muhammad Ali, John Carlos, Tommy Davis, Colin Kaepernick, and countless sisters in the WNBA. However, for the most part, athletes have chosen to remain apolitical to maintain their jobs and reputations of “respectability” in white society.
Recently, however, over 50 HBCU football legends stood flat-footed and said with their chest that they are endorsing current Vice President Kamala Harris and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz for president and vice president, respectively, in the upcoming Nov. 5 election.
“[We] are inspired and proud of the leadership that President Harris and Vice President Walz will provide,” read an excerpt from the letter signed by a “who’s who” group of gridiron superstars that includes Pro Football Hall of Famers, Super Bowl champions and MVPs, former #1 overall picks, and some of the first Black athletes and coaches to break the color barrier in the NFL.
The list also includes some Houston Oilers greats.
In their endorsement of Harris, who they dub the “MVP,” and “Coach Walz,” this contingent of Black athletes said, “Given [Harris’] integrity, values and demonstrated commitment to justice and equality of opportunity, we are confident that as President she will serve the best interests of all Americans.”
The group’s endorsement came on National Black Voter Day (Sept. 20, 2024) and followed Harris’ roundtable discussion with the National Association of Black Journalists, where she highlighted how her agenda will continue to uplift Black men and how she intends to earn their vote.
The Harris-Walz campaign and the DNC recently utilized HBCU football matchups (Howard vs. Hampton, North Carolina A&T vs. North Carolina Central, and Grambling State vs. Jackson State) to reach young, Black voters where they are. These engagements are part of a larger effort to mobilize young voters and engage college students, which will be critical to winning in November.
Here are the 52 HBCU football legends, (including 10 Pro Football Hall of Fame Inductees and two Super Bowl MVPs) endorsing the Harris-Walz ticket:
JOE “747” ADAMS (Tennessee St.)
WILLARD BAILEY (Head Coach at Virginia Union, Norfolk St. & Virginia-Lynchburg)
ANTOINE BETHEA (Howard)
MEL BLOUNT (Southern, Pro Football Hall of Fame)
EMERSON BOOZER (Maryland Eastern Shore)
ROBERT BRAZILE (Jackson St., Pro Football Hall of Fame)
WAYMOND BRYANT (Tennessee St.)
HAROLD CARMICHAEL (Southern, Pro Football Hall of Fame)
HARRY CARSON (South Carolina St., Pro Football Hall of Fame)
RAYMOND CHESTER (Morgan St.)
BEN COATES (Livingstone)
GREG COLEMAN (Florida A&M, First Black Punter in NFL)
KEVIN DENT (Jackson St.)
RICHARD DENT (Tennessee St., Pro Football Hall of Fame, Super Bowl XX MVP)
PARNELL DICKINSON (Mississippi Valley St.)
DONALD DRIVER (Alcorn St.)
LESLIE FRAZIER (Alcorn St., Former Head Coach of the Minnesota Vikings)
JIMMIE GILES (Alcorn St.)
JAMES “SHACK” HARRIS (Grambling St., First Black full-time starting NFL QB)
BILL HAYES (Head Coach at Winston-Salem St. & North Carolina A&T)
THOMAS “HOLLYWOOD” HENDERSON (Langston)
KENNY HOUSTON (Prairie View A&M, Pro Football Hall of Fame)
RICHARD HUNTLEY (Winston-Salem St.)
HAROLD JACKSON (Jackson St.)
RICHARD “TOMBSTONE” JACKSON (Southern)
WILLIE JEFFRIES (Head Coach at South Carolina St. & Howard)
BILLY JOE (Head Coach at Central St., Miles & Florida A&M)
ED “TOO TALL” JONES (Tennessee St., #1 Overall Pick in the 1974 NFL Draft)
WILLIE LANIER (Morgan St., Pro Football Hall of Fame, First Black starting MLB in NFL)
HENRY LAWRENCE (Florida A&M)
ALBERT LEWIS (Grambling St.)
FRANK LEWIS (Grambling St.)
JIM MARSALIS (Tennessee St.)
CHARLIE NEAL (Legendary HBCU Broadcaster)
TIMMY NEWSOME (Winston-Salem St.)
NATE NEWTON (Florida A&M)
LEMAR PARRISH (Lincoln)
ROBERT PORCHER III (South Carolina St.)
PETE RICHARDSON (Head Coach at Winston-Salem St. & Southern)
ART SHELL (Maryland Eastern Shore, Pro Football Hall of Fame, First Black NFL Head Coach)
DONNIE SHELL (South Carolina St., Pro Football Hall of Fame)
JACKIE SLATER (Jackson St., Pro Football Hall of Fame)
TORRANCE SMALLS (Alcorn St.)
JOE TAYLOR (Head Coach at Howard, Virginia Union, Hampton & Florida A&M)
DR. DENNIS THOMAS (Former MEAC Commissioner)
WILLIE TOTTEN (Mississippi Valley St.)
JOHNNY WALTON (Elizabeth City St.)
EVERSON WALLS (Grambling St.)
SAMMY WHITE (Grambling St.)
DOUG WILLIAMS (Grambling St., First Black QB to start, win & named MVP of a Super Bowl)
ERIK WILLIAMS (Central St.)
ROYNELL YOUNG (Alcorn St.)