Former Mercer football players plan event to foster conversations about racism, unity

Former Mercer football players have come together to raise money for members of Middle Georgia’s Black communities impacted by systemic racism and police brutality.

The effort, Breaking Beariers: Macon Unity Fundraiser, will culminate in a community event this weekend. Organizers hope to give people a chance to come together for fellowship while cultivating conversations and unity. The event is scheduled from noon to 2 p.m on Saturday at Tattnall Square Park in Macon.

Former Mercer tailback Caleb Brown said the idea for the effort was born in a group chat of 25 former Mercer football players. The former athletes saw the turmoil that gripped the nation following the killings of Breonna Taylor, George Floyd and Ahmaud Arbery and knew they needed to something.

“Some of the guys were saying we want to do something. Everyone was feeling kind of heavy about what was going on recently,” Brown said. “We have the power now to be more active. The consensus was to do a fundraiser and a culminating rally of sorts. That is how it came about. It was a collaborative thing.”

A time to talk

Event organizers hope it is a step toward reconciliation and unity, giving people the opportunity to have conversations that promote a sense of understanding among community members. Mental health practitioners will attend to assist people as they process complex issues like racism, systemic oppression and police brutality. Brown said those issues aren’t easy to discuss.

“It is not as black and white as some would like it to be and I don’t mean that in terms of race; I don’t think it is as binary as we think it is at times,” he said. “This event is to raise money for organizations in Middle Georgia that will benefit the Black community, which has been historically discriminated against while also providing a forum for people to communicate and talk and share.”

Using their platform

The former players have raised more than $1,800 of their $5,000 goal. Brown said that he and his former teammates recognize they have a platform and a responsibility to make a difference in the community. Some of that inspiration has come from seeing athletes like Colin Kaepernick and Lebron James use their platforms to promote social change.

“I am someone who has a platform in large part because I played football. I don’t take that lightly,” Brown said. “Because what else are we on Earth for. Because if I go out there and score a lot of touchdowns and make a tremendous amount of money it is almost like so what. What positive impact did I leave on the world? What is the point of the platform if you are just going to be selfish with it.”

Brown said that his time on the football team is a showcase of what unity looks like. Each of the players came from various backgrounds, races and political views but were able to come together for the purpose of winning a football game. He hopes that that can be a good example of what unity can look like in communities around the country and in Middle Georgia.

“In theory, we can be a model for society. We can disagree on stuff… I am pretty sure I played football with plenty of Democrats and Republicans and we were still able to be civil in a way that helped us reach the goal,” Brown said. “If unity is the collective goal and I would like to think that most people would think that then it has to happen. We have to be able to accept our differences and fight for equality. If we can do it then perhaps society can too.”

This story was originally published July 10, 2020 at 11:25 AM.