What We Need To Know
A Teammates Guide To Talking About Race
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My name is Joy Wilde and I'm a 14 year old black girl. I live in Washington State, and enjoy playing all sports. But softball is my true love. I play for The Northwest Bullets 18U Campos, and I'm working hard every day so I can play at a D1 college . When I grow up I want to be a homicide detective or a coach for a college softball team.
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About the Author
"In a racist society it is not enough to be non-racist. We must be anti-racist." - Ibram X. Kendi
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Behind the Story
Two years ago, when I was 12 years old I saw a life changing video. It was posted by a professional softball team called This is Us. The team was formed when the general manager of the Scrap Yard Dawgs sent out an insensitive and offense tweet. When the players on the team found out, they united and stood up for the Black community. They immediately quit playing for the Scrap Yard Dawgs, and formed their own team called This is Us. When watching this video, I decided if the women on the This is Us softball team were able to find the courage to stand up for what was right, then I could too. So, I decided to create a workbook addressing racism on female athletic teams. My goal was to create a guide for female athletic teams that educates players about issues involving race, and also serves as a jumping off point for more discussions around race. Each chapter will include a story from a Black/Indigenous/Person of Color (BIPOC).