Why David Fizdale’s comments on Memphis’ confederate statues matter

David Fizdale spoke out in support of the removal of a pair of confederate statues on multiple occasions. We could all learn from his example.

Memphis Grizzlies’ head coach David Fizdale recently spoke with long-time NBA reporter David Aldridge about his support of the removal of a pair of confederate statues in Memphis’ Mississippi River and Health Services parks.

His message was clear and direct.

"“My agenda is simple,” Fizdale said. “I want those things out of public view.“I’m not even saying tear them up and melt them down. Put them in their proper context in history. Their proper context is in a civil rights museum, where you could put them in context, and talk about how awful they are.”"

Fizdale’s conversation with Aldridge represents the second time he’s spoken up about the issue in the last several weeks, a continuation of the discussion he started with Wendi C. Thomas, a Memphis journalist and leader of the MLK50: Justice Through Journalism project.

Before we dive into to much analysis of this situation, let’s start with some truth. The headline for this piece is a touch on the sensational side. Fizdale’s comments matter because any action aimed at addressing the current social inequities built upon racial lines in present-day America, the history that created them, and the enduring memories they’ve forged — public, private, conscious and subconscious — always matters.

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When Fizdale says, “As a leader in this community. As a person who cares about his community, and this city and the people in this city, I’m not just going to sit back and watch this, and just be on the sidelines,” he is reclaiming his right to be an active participant in shaping the world around him. That’s incredibly difficult to do when that same world was designed to pacify your voice, as it has been for the black community, and it’s both meaningful and brave.

Fizdale understands the reality of the power structures in play, both those he is hoping to shift in the broader socio-political space, and those he is challenging within the NBA ecosystem. In his interview with Thomas, Fizdale called out the gatekeepers of that power, the white community, specifically.

"“I’m calling on all of our citizens to actively get involved in fixing this problem,” he said. ‘Especially our white citizens. Because until this becomes absolutely unacceptable to you. It will continue.”"

That’s the kind of blunt messaging that, while both needed and accurate, is often met with aggressive defensiveness.

Fizdale’s willingness to deliver the message, despite the potential for critical, albeit unfair, feedback from white folks is a testament to his strength and commitment — particularly given his public-facing role.

He doubled down on his challenge in his most recent interview with Aldridge, calling out Grizzlies’ owner Robert Pera and the white-dominated Memphis business community by name.

"“It makes people uncomfortable. But that’s good. I want people to be uncomfortable. Our owner [Robert Pera], the owner of FedEx, our white owners of all the companies in the city. They’re the ones who have to step up and clean this out of our city. Money talks. What says more than people stepping up and saying, ‘We’re not going to have this in our city?’ People have stepped up and bought tickets and supported them. I’m asking them to support us.”"

Fizdale’s willingness to challenge Pera is of particular importance. For all the enormous amounts of money that the NBA’s players earn, it is with the owners that power truly resides. I am not speaking here of bargaining power in contract negotiations, or the ability to control one’s basketball destiny, both of which are at all-time highs for players, but rather true power to influence the social, political and financial landscape of our country.

NBA players aren’t completely devoid of that ability, but they certainly aren’t as well positioned as owners, most of whom fit the bill of the traditional elite — white, male and swimming in money. Our nation was built to benefit that specific type of person, and even with today’s mega contracts, the NBA is not immune from that reality.

It’s not a coincidence that the people making billions of dollars from owning NBA teams tend to look so similar to the individuals that wrote and continue to write the rules that dictate “success” in the United States.

Fizdale is highlighting that specifically, and challenging it directly. That’s noble, necessary and totally unfair to ask of him as a man of color. The moral burden of remedying hundreds of years of prejudice and bigotry lies with the oppressor, not the oppressed.

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And yet, Fizdale, who has achieved incredible success in spite of our nation’s history, is more than willing to not only push for something better, but do so by singling out the man that signs his paychecks. That’s both commendable and inspiring. He deserves a ton of credit for it.