‘Racism is a disease’: How Mizzou’s Cuonzo Martin is standing up to social injustice
Cuonzo Martin is, most transparently, Missouri’s men’s basketball coach. It’s a post that comes with a platform across the state — a voice many seek out. And as the lone black head coach at Mizzou, Martin said he understands the unique position he’s in.
As protests have blazed across the country for the past week, including in Kansas City, many are coming together to condemn racial oppression and police brutality against African-Americans. The killing of George Floyd, a black man, by Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin on May 25 was just the latest of many events to spark outrage.
Floyd’s death, and those of Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor and others, is nothing new to Martin, 48. A native of East St. Louis, he said he’s seen similar incidents for years. They’re a reality for black people, Martin said, as our culture continues to grapple with racial inequalities.
As the spotlight shines toward reform through the Black Lives Matter movement, Martin has taken to social media and productive conversations to lend his support. He said he’s on an assignment from God:
To use his voice and platform to stand up to inequality.
“Racism is a disease,” Martin told The Star in a phone interview Tuesday. “You have to kill the disease. I think that is the most important thing — it’s a sickness. It’s as simple as that. If you’re in and around people that live like that, then that says something about you, if you have the comfort in being around them.”
Martin said he recognizes the need to maintain a base level of respect as an ambassador for the University of Missouri. At the same time, he hopes to have these tough conversations with people who are willing to engage.
He first articulated his thoughts on the topic several days ago, issuing a statement that emphasized “his voice won’t be silent until the injustice stops.” Martin stressed that while talking about inequality and oppression is a positive, the next step is action — what’s next and what can be done.
“When white people say ‘All lives matter,’ I agree with that 100%,” Martin said. “Then, if all lives matter, then the white people who say that, they should be just as outraged when something happens to George Floyd. That means streets should be filled when we protest because nobody can move. That means the whole community, the whole state, is shut down if all lives matter. That means I don’t see a car, I see people.”
When it comes to addressing social issues, Martin said he doesn’t understand the people who implore him to “stick to sports” — a corner of fandom that wants to leave politics and social commentary out of the athletic realm.
Martin said he understands that fans will want to critique him as a coach, for his team’s performance on the court, but before all that, Martin said, he’s a man: one entitled to his own opinions and thoughts.
And if he can spur some change for the good, then all the better.
“I have to continue to educate myself on a lot of political issues,” Martin said. “So when I talk about it, I’m prepared for certain situations. ... But I do know right is right and wrong is wrong.
“I think when people say ‘Shut up and stick to sports’ ... now, if they’re saying that to all races and all walks of life, if you can show me an account where they say it specifically to white athletes, then OK, they think ‘They’re sports figures.’ It seems to me they’ve only said that to black athletes. I would look at that in a certain way.”
While some wonder “why now?” as protesters continue to gather nationwide, Martin said black people have been looking to have their voices heard for years — decades.
He pointed to the Rodney King riots in L.A. in 1992. Martin was coaching at Cal in Berkeley, California, at the time. He also mentioned the Ferguson protests in 2014, when Michael Brown was shot and killed by a police officer and that community erupted in outrage and took to the streets.
“I don’t think there’s a script to protesting,” Martin said. “You’re protesting for a reason. If everything was good, I wouldn’t be protesting. I don’t think there’s a blueprint, like, ‘This is how you protest.’ I’ve talked to leaders that have been a part of protests. They say the protest starts when the law enforcement says it’s time to leave.”
Martin hasn’t shied away from these discussions with his players, 12 of 15 of whom are black student-athletes. On his weekly video call with the team Friday, Martin introduced a surprise guest: Columbia Police Chief Geoff Jones. He said he wanted to challenge his players and clear the air of any questions they had.
While Martin said there was some initial skepticism about having Jones on the call, by the end the mood had changed. Two players even expressed interest in becoming police officers once they were done with basketball.
“We have great relationships — at least I like to think that,” Martin said of his players. “When we talk life stuff, it’s not Coach Martin. I’m one of them: Whether they’re white or black, I’m standing with what you’re standing for. Help me understand it. If they decide to (protest), it’s their right to do that.”
Martin recalled a time when was on a recruiting trip to Tulsa, Oklahoma. He was pulled over by police, and as he sat in an officer’s truck, the officer told him that particular highway was known to be a conduit for drug trafficking. Martin said they had a good conversation and he was eventually released, but the moment stuck with him.
Martin, who grew up in a housing project called “The Hole,” said he’s always had a great relationship with police officers; one of his high school coaches was an officer. Martin said he was raised in a community in which everyone knew each other, which is why he “never looked at (police officers) as if ‘These guys are bad.’”
Martin called policing “one of the highest-regarded jobs in the world. Which is also why he said it should be reserved for the best people — and barred to those with any prejudices.
“When you’re policing your own community, the community that you live in, I think you will police that place differently than you would compared to a place that you don’t live in,” Martin said. “In most cases, when you live in the community, you know the people. You still have to do your job, whatever that is, but I think there’s a level of compassion and understanding when it’s a community that you live in.”
Seeing non-black people so upset about the injustices African-American people face, Martin is encouraged. He recommended being part of the change, whatever form that may take. Healthy dialogue is a good step forward, but there’s still a long way to go, he said.
“This is not about black people saying, ‘We need to do this, this, this,’” Martin said. “It’s all about living amongst each other in harmony with peace and love. That’s what it’s really about: Lifting each other up.”