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Natasha Cloud calls out athlete silence in Players’ Tribune article

Photo Credit: AP/Nick Wass

A notable Washington Mystic is tired as are all of us of the constant and consistent mistreatment of Black people in spite of all of the contributions African-Americans have made over the years to the country.

But Natasha Cloud’s issue is not necessarily with those that may say anything to justify why racism exists. Her problem is with those athletes who say nothing at all at fear of damaging their brand or hurting endorsement opportunities.

She wrote a straight-to-the-point article for The Players’ Tribune expressing her frustration and anger with athletes that try to take the easy way out by saying nothing instead of saying something.


You start to notice how many forces there are in place to make sure that 2020 isn’t really all that much different from 2010. Or 2000. Or 1990. Or 1920. You start to understand how the systems of power in this country, they’re not built to create possibility or opportunity for black people – they’re built to lock them out.

–Natasha Cloud, Washington Mystics (The Players’ Tribune)


America’s systems of power exist to lock in the white status quo.

–Natasha Cloud, Washington Mystics (The Players’ Tribune)

While Cloud stressed that racism amongst police is an issue, the larger problem at hand is those that are actually protecting and legitimizing their actions by attempting to stay neutral or claim the “both sides” mantle commonly reached for in times like this.


…I’m writing this because I have a platform. It may not be the biggest platform in the world ….. but it’s bigger than a lot of people have. It’s what I’ve got. And the only thing I feel like using that platform for right now is to send a message to the so-called ‘neutral’ people out there. It’s to tell them that we’re changing up the definitions of some of these words they’ve been hiding behind.

–Natasha Cloud, Washington Mystics (The Players’ Tribune)

Cloud also highlighted several athletes for adding their voices to this conversation as well – including the New York Liberty’s very own Amanda Zahui B and her own Mystics teammate Elena Delle Donne.


Man – like, when I see Elena Delle Donne posting on her IG story the other day?? You have no idea what that does to my spirits, or what that means to me.

–Natasha Cloud, Washington Mystics (The Players’ Tribune)

She wrote that her message “laid down the gauntlet” for other athletes and that those athletes can no longer sit on the sidelines of this issue.


Because I’m just out here trying to stay alive.

–Natasha Cloud, Washington Mystics (The Players’ Tribune)


And your knee is on my neck.

–Natasha Cloud, Washington Mystics (The Players’ Tribune)

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