By Robert Wallace
Afro
https://afro.com/
As a kid, I believed I’d be a great quarterback. I could read defenses, throw tight spirals, and lead my team to victory. In the housing projects, we are conditioned to find a way to win.
Then came organized football. Coaches discouraged me, subtly at first, then blatantly. “You’d be better on defense,” they’d say. “Try wide receiver.” The message was clear: This position isn’t for you.
I let them win. The system took my dream, not because I wasn’t capable, but because it had already decided what was possible for me. So many young athletes—especially Black athletes—face these unspoken barriers. But what happens when someone refuses to accept those limitations?
Jalen Hurts faced that same system—but he fought back.
The Jalen Hurts playbook for fighting
Jalen Hurts was told he wasn’t good enough. When he lost his starting job at Alabama, critics said he was finished. When the Eagles picked him, people called it a mistake.
He could have listened. He could have accepted the doubts, the criticism and the systemic roadblocks. Instead, he made up his mind: No one—no coach, no analyst, no system—was going to stop him. Now? He’s an elite quarterback, a Super Bowl leader, and a symbol of perseverance.
His journey teaches us that if we commit to our purpose and refuse to accept the labels others place on us, we can overcome.
Fighting back in the age of Trump 2.0
We face a political movement—MAGA—that wants to define America the same way the system tried to define me and Hurts. If you’re not White, male, straight and Christian, they want you to believe you don’t belong. Their message: “You are not American enough. You don’t deserve power. You don’t deserve a voice.”
This isn’t just politics. It’s a fight for existence. If we don’t fight back, the forces of regression will shape a future where opportunity and freedom are reserved for only a select few.
Lesson 1: Keep your identity, no matter what they say
The system told Hurts he wasn’t good enough. He didn’t listen. He stayed true to himself. If he had let them define him, he would have never stepped onto an NFL field as a starting quarterback. We must apply that same mindset in every area of life.
Action Steps:
- Tell your story—loudly and proudly. Speak up and remind people that you belong.
- Support diverse voices. Follow and uplift leaders who fight against racism, classism, and exclusion.
Lesson 2: Outwork the doubters
Hurts didn’t just reject the labels—they fueled him. He worked harder, studied more and played smarter. His story proves that success is possible, but it requires relentless dedication. We must apply this to our advocacy and personal growth.
Action Steps:
- Get politically engaged beyond just voting. Attend town halls, volunteer for campaigns, and educate yourself on policies.
- Invest in your own power. Learn new skills, join professional networks, and mentor others. Economic empowerment is key in dismantling systemic barriers.
Lesson 3: Win Anyway
The system wasn’t built for Hurts to succeed but he won anyway. That’s our challenge now. Despite voter suppression and attempts to erase us, we show up, we fight and we win.
Victory isn’t always immediate, but history shows that perseverance pays off.
Action Steps:
- Hold leaders accountable. Call your representatives, demand policies that reflect true democracy, and support candidates who fight for justice.
- Build unstoppable coalitions. Find common ground with others who share a vision for a just America. We are stronger together.
The Game is On—Are You Ready to Fight?
Jalen Hurts and the Eagles didn’t wait for permission to succeed. They fought for it. They took control of their narrative, put in the work and proved their worth on their terms.
Now, it’s our turn.
The system will always try to tell us who we can and cannot be. But as Hurts has shown us, they don’t get to decide. We do.
The question is: Are you ready to fight?
