Stephen Jones, the son of Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones, and the team’s executive vice president, makes it clear that the apple indeed does not fall far from the tree. On the heels of his father’s plantation master remarks dictating that all of his players must stand on the sidelines for the national anthem regardless of league policy, Stephen follows up with the equally ridiculous statement that players will stand if they “want to be a Dallas Cowboy.” With an arrogance and racist entitlement that is standard for white boys in America, Stephen dismissively notes in reference to players’ concerns about systemic racism and police brutality that he will support their “personal issues ” and “personal things.” Stephen goes on to add that he’d assist them on Tuesdays, but they need to check “I” and “Me” at the door on football Sundays. This pathetically callous and clueless minimization of the extraordinary mistreatment and dehumanization of Black people is, quite frankly, not at all rare among racist whites like Stephen Jones. The fact of the matter is that without these Black men and their “personal issues,” neither he nor his father would enjoy the wealth they currently experience. As the misnamed America’s Team, it would be such a show of power and extraordinary bravery for the team’s Black players to refuse to play in the face of such disrespectful treatment; but alas, the Dallas Cowboys appear to be teeming with house negroes who’d just as soon kiss Jerry Jones’ ring than demonstrate any sign of pride or rebellion. What a missed opportunity.
Article below by Charlotte Carroll at si.com.
Cowboys executive vice president Stephen Jones said in a radio interview players should stand “if they want to be a Dallas Cowboy.”
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