NBA Plantation

July 15, 2020

National Basketball Association

645 Fifth Avenue
New York, NY 10022

RE: NBA PLANTATION (a.k.a National Basketball Association)

Dear National Basketball Association:

Your time of silencing Black employees is over. Your time of dismissing Black employees is over. Your time of blocking the advancement of Black employees is over. Your time of retaliating against Black employees is over. Your time of intimidating, harassing, and bullying Black employees is over.

The time has come for you to “Get Your Knee Off Our Necks!”

For years you have neglected and terribly failed to address the systemic racism and discriminatory practices that exists heavily and pervasively within your organization.

Women employees company-wide are disturbed about the gender wage disparity, lack of career advancement, and the professional development liberally offered to their male counterparts, but not offered to them. Your unfair practices have not gone unnoticed, as many women are astutely aware of the “good ole boys club” organization you promote.

NBA Plantation, you have ignored the plights of courageous Black men and women who have spoken up regarding unfair treatment, harassment, and racial injustices.

Most notably, you have treated Black women disdainfully. For many Black women, their experiences in your league offices are aptly described as pure work terror! Many Black women are too terrified to speak up, and for those who have surely felt your backlash. Black women have painfully endured your abject tolerance and allowance of racial biases, sexual harassment, inequality of pay, lack of advancement, marginalization, isolation, and microaggressions in your workplace.

NBA Plantation, you have constrained promotions and salary increases of Black men and women employees, while accelerating the advancement and incomes of their White counterparts. In many instances, you have expeditiously promoted White employees at the expense of Black employees. You have blocked leadership opportunities for Black men and women. Black employees have also noticed the influx of younger White talent, and the exodus of seasoned professionals.

The composition of Black employees in your league offices pales in comparison to the Black professional players on the court. Why is it that Black employees comprise of only sixteen percent of your corporate staff, yet seventy-five percent of professional basketball players are Black?

The world needs to know that your narrative of Black Lives Matter is FALSE. Black Lives Matter only if you shut up and dribble.

The world needs to know that your “NBA Cares” platform is FALSE.

The world needs to know that your brand is FALSE.

NBA Plantation, your time is over. We will no longer be silent about the unfair treatment and inequitable practices we have suffered because of our race, ethnicity, gender, and age. It is time for you to take accountability and correct the deeply rooted corruption within your organization. End the systemic racism and discrimination embodied within your organization NOW.

The ball is in your court.

Truthfully yours,

The Coalition

Instagram and Twitter: @thecoalition20

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