BLACK OUT STORIES | HASSANI DOTSON, JACORI HAYES & DAYNE ST. CLAIRE

When we thought about what 2021 meant for us, persistence was the theme that we
consistently mentioned. In 2020, emotions were high. Everyone wanted to take immediate
action looking themselves in the mirror and wanting to find solutions to problems that have plagued this country for centuries. As time has passed, we are proud of the continued enthusiasm within Black Players for Change and others we have worked with to improve the lives of people in the community and find solutions. We have had the pleasure of working with fellow players in Black Players for Change to alter the soccer landscape in this country and the likes of Tony Sanneh and Mario Wimberly who are changing the lives of kids in the Twin Cities. For the rest of our careers and lives, we want to amplify the leaders in our community and be the change we want to see in our country.

For our picture, especially living in Minneapolis, we wanted to have a mural centering George Floyd as the focal point. The tragic murder of George Floyd was the genesis for Black Players for Change. As we reflected on the past year, we were encouraged by everything we have accomplished as a group. We are planting the seeds for future generations of not only soccer players but also our communities as a whole to have better lives. Even though media attention and daily conversations for racial justice in the general public has regressed since 2020, there are a lot of people doing amazing work behind the scenes every day. This persistence will pay off, and we will see the fruit of that labor.