We might be in the midst of another revolution in terms of social justice. With the racial inequality at the forefront of football right now, it’s important to look at how we got to where we are. Inconceivable to fathom now, football, like all sports, was once segregated.
The best athletes of all races historically were regrettably denied the chance to compete against each other due to the color of their skin for years.
On the backdrop of the civil rights movement, Nate Northington finally broke the color barrier in the SEC in 1967, playing for the Kentucky Wildcats.
On Saturday, ESPN’s Maria Taylor profiled Northington’s incredible journey on College GameDay.
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There undoubtedly remains a massive amount of progress to be made in terms of civil rights in the United States. But in only short snippets, hearing some of the overtly racially charged comments and images of the movement upon which Northington had the courage to take the field is a reminder that change can be made.
It doesn’t come easy, but it can be had.
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Video: Nate Northington's Journey To Break The SEC Color Barrier
