The month of February has been marked as the month of honoring the black individuals in the world of sports. However, there has been criticism aimed at the network giant, ESPN who in acknowledging the individuals drew attention to the graphic.
The title on the graphic stated, “ACC Head Coaches Who Happen To Be Black” and was shown during the NCAA men’s basketball matchup between the North Carolina Tar Heels and the Virginia Cavaliers.
An ESPN graphic on Black head coaches in the ACC took criticism for the "ACC Head Coaches Who Happen To Be Black" title. pic.twitter.com/7kvIs0ZjpN
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) February 24, 2024
The conversation went on between play-by-play announcer Dave O’Brien and ESPN analyst Cory Alexander. During the conversation the fact also came forward that ACC has set the standard for diverse hiring and this is the highest percentage of Black head coaches in any Power Five conference.
Alexander also said, “We’ll get to a point where we’re not concerned about the color of the coach’s skin and simply that these are very good basketball coaches leading great basketball programs.”
The community was once again at the forefront and shared their thoughts regarding how ESPN’s title turned out.
This is an obviously absurd graphic but also it creates this image in my head of these coaches going their whole lives not knowing what color they are then just randomly walking by a mirror one day and being like “wait a minute….i’m black?!” lol https://t.co/t0A89YwXsx
— Dugar, Michael-Shawn (@MikeDugar) February 24, 2024
That’s 100% true though?! They just happened to be born black and Their race should be irrelevant as to why they were hired because they have ZERO control over it!! 🧠
— Sean (@Merica57) February 24, 2024
ESPN has jumped the shark.
Again.— David Carter (@MrDavidCarter) February 24, 2024
@espn should put a graphic highlighting all the white players
— Josh Payne (@Josh_Payne97) February 25, 2024
Why promote black coaches over any other coach though ??? The whole black thing is racist and overblown
— emil morcos (@emilmorcos) February 24, 2024
"Happen" is outrageous
— gregs gardian (@brewbadgers) February 25, 2024
ACC told us, “ i LoVe bLaCk pEoPlE, a LoT oF mY fRiEnDs aRe BlAcK.” https://t.co/8vJBCyS2sn
— J✨ (@jonthemarq) February 24, 2024
The conversation highlighted important facts regarding the diversion in ACC however, the title was not positively taken by the community and they shared their opinions regarding the same, subsequently drawing criticism.
