Watch the documentary BASEBALL by Ken Burns.

In the wanderings of my own mind, I find myself thinking why it is that Josh Gibson is dead.

Now, I have been a baseball fan longer than I have been any other fan of any other sport. I am aware of how prolific the Negro Leagues were! What makes me mad cry aside from playing WHAT IF about Ken Griffey, Jr. or Bo Jackson —it’s to ask about, play WHAT IF about Joshua Gibson.

For all his talent— solely because he was Black, he spent the rest of his career in the Negro Leagues. And the most devastating thing? He died hallucinating— asking (pleading) for Joe DiMaggio to acknowledge him.

The other thing is this—Josh was supposed to be first— the Washington Senators wanted him. Now, one could make the argument that Jack was more respectable which is why Branch Rickey advocated for him. Yet, here we are.

This nation refuses to traverse the rough terrain of racism. It considers exclusion more viable, more preferable, to inclusion! To put out gives greater control and protection from those you deem less than you.

Read: We know what we did, and we know how bad it was — and we are afraid you’ll get us! Or worse yet?! Get ahead of us.

Dehumanization is the chief tool of the oppressor to advance any and all fear based narrative.

They hate us because they ain’t us— and can’t stop us.

And we still remember #20, don’t we?