In 1992 actors Wesley Snipes and Woody Harrelson starred in one of the most memorable movies of that decade, White Men Can’t Jump. The movie title alluded to a long-standing stereotype that argued the inability of white males to perform the more athletic feats of playing above the rim. The idea was to say that white men were incapable of doing something that the world had become accustomed to seeing black men do for decades, as if we were the only ones who could do it.
Interestingly for decades the world has also become accustomed to the idea that it would be the minority voices in America standing up against injustice in public spaces. Unfortunately, the world has also grown very familiar with the complicit and silent voices of conservative white males on issues of equity and injustice. All too often white males of influence are seldom seen jumping into the fray for justice in any real and significant way. This is not to say that there have been no white males who’ve stood side by side with minority leaders, I have a few that white brothers that I would go to battle with in a heartbeat, still there are not enough willing to do so in the moments where it matters most.
Maybe this is why I was encouraged this week to see the public frustration expressed by two leading white male figures in our society. Ironically, one of whom is a former professional basketball player and now coach of a team heading to the play for the national championship. The other a leading voice on the democratic political scene. 
The fact that all the world was able to witness their passion and conviction was critical at this time. They both represented the type of courage necessary to overcome this climate of prejudice that is choking the life out of our democracy. But, I believe, that what made their righteous discontent more valuable was the roles they hold in society. Which is why I would argue the visual of seeing any white male standing up for what is right in the face of other misguided male voices is encouraging and life giving.
How different how our history might have been where this a more common reality. Imagine if one of the white male clergy, who attended the lynching’s of blacks at the turn of the 19th Century would have had the courage to jump to his feet and speak against other white men about their behaviors. Or maybe, if a few of the white men sitting just outside of Central High School in Little Rock would have jumped to their feet to shout out in the sea of bigotry and hatred that what was occurring was wrong. Or just maybe one of the Republican white male Senators would have had the decency to testify to the giftedness and genius of a black woman in pursuit of a seat on the highest court in the land. Or maybe, if just one had the courage to say that we need to address the issue of guns in our society. In this day and age where our democracy is facing some amazing challenges being presented by primarily white male led opposition it’s imperative that white men begin to jump.
And thanks to Beto and Coach Kerr we know they can and I pray it inspires others to do the same.
