Policy Resolution YTH-15-01

WHEREAS, in communities here at home and abroad riddled with social ills, sports become an escape and an avenue to propel young people towards positive growth and actions;

WHEREAS, sports and sporting events can bring people together from all races, creeds, and colors as witnessed during major international competitions such as the FIFA World Cup and the Olympic Games;

WHEREAS, great moments in sports are frequently exemplified by actions and struggles both on and off the field;

WHEREAS, track and field athlete and four-time Olympic gold medalist Jesse Owens defied Adolph Hitler’s plan to show the world that Aryan people were the dominant race by becoming the most successful athlete of the 1936 Olympic Games and winning medals in the 100m race, 200m race, 4×100 relay, and the long jump;

WHEREAS, during the Winter Olympics of 1980 in Lake Placid New York on February 22, the United States National Hockey Team, composed of amateur and collegiate players, defeated the Soviet Union national team, playing in what would be later known as “The Miracle on Ice”;

WHEREAS, Jack Roosevelt “Jackie” Robinson became the first African American to play in Major League Baseball in the modern era, and who later in the life founded the Jackie Robinson Foundation dedicated to narrowing the achievement gap in higher education and preparing leaders;

WHEREAS, former number one ranked professional tennis player in the world and winner of 39 Grand Slam titles, Billie Jean King, defeated Bobby Riggs 6-4, 6-3, 6-3 in the nationally televised “Battle of the Sexes”;

WHEREAS, the first Black heavy-weight champion since Jack Johnson, “The Brown Bomber” Joe Louis defeated Max Schmeling in a rematch in 1938, fanning the flame of hope that was lit for millions of African Americans who now had reason to believe in an opportunity for change; and

WHEREAS, in the United States and around the world, sports are a universal language that unites people (from urban to suburban) and breaks down barriers whether they are ethnic, religious, economic, or social.
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the National Black Caucus of State Legislators (NBCSL) salutes sports in American society and recognizes the valuable role it plays in our communities;

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, NBCSL urges its legislators to use the power of sports to unify their communities and encourage young people to grow and succeed; and

BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED, that a copy of this resolution be transmitted to the President of the United States, the Vice President of the United States, members of the United States House of Representatives and the United States Senate, and other federal and state government officials as appropriate.

• SPONSOR: Representative Ronald G. Waters (PA)
• Committee of Jurisdiction: Youth Policy Committee
• Certified by Committee Chair: Senator Mike Shelton (OK)
• Ratified in Plenary Session: Ratification Date is December 12, 2014
• Ratification is certified by: Representative Joe Armstrong (TN), President