In 1957, the Little Rock school system decided to integrate North Little Rock High School, which was met with resistance by an angry white mob. It turns out that one of the young men who tried to block the path of six Black students attempting to desegregate the school was Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones.
The Washington Post filed a report on Wednesday that showed Jones was part of that mob intent on keeping Black students out of the school. Beforehand, Jones had only spoken about his presence at the incident as part of historical documentation.
https://twitter.com/sallyjenkinswa1/status/1595382001447669761
“I don’t know that I or anybody anticipated or had a background of knowing … what was involved. It was more a curious thing,” Jones told the Washington Post when asked about why he was there. Details surrounding where he was and how he got there seems to contradict his stated intentions.
Jones has been criticized over the years for his various stance on certain issues. Most recently, while he initially kneeled with players during the national anthem to protest social justice, he later changed his mind, applauding players who didn’t kneel and saying those who did “disrespected the flag.” Jones also apologized in 2017 for a racially insensitive remark he had made in 2013.
The report also notes that Jones has never hired a Black head coach in the 33 years that he’s owned the Cowboys.
The Cowboys owner, who is now 80, is beloved among most of his former African-American players, such as Emmitt Smith and Michael Irvin. However, many NFL fans who have seen the report about Jones aren’t surprised.
Shouldn’t be surprised
— Matt Barnes (@Matt_Barnes22) November 23, 2022
Maybe, just maybe, Jerry Jones like so many others in the NFL is…wait for it…racist. I bet Kaepernick has thoughts. I'm not surprised at all. But…still…damn. https://t.co/8lPnayeHKh
— Wajahat Ali (@WajahatAli) November 23, 2022
The owner of “America’s Team” subscribes to America’s greatest lie: pull yourself up by your bootstraps.
This Jerry Jones piece by David Maraniss & @sallyjenkinswa1 is must read pic.twitter.com/e39IWXSiSj
— Candace Buckner (@CandaceDBuckner) November 23, 2022
I mean we always said that anti CRT push was about fear of what the history books would show about some families… https://t.co/peoMroyjeW
— Mikki Kendall (@Karnythia) November 23, 2022
Holy cow https://t.co/I0FIS2qHeW pic.twitter.com/Kq6EEhb7GO
— Keith Olbermann (@KeithOlbermann) November 23, 2022
Jerry Jones may have grown over the years, but it still doesn’t excuse the fact that he took a stand with racists over 60 years ago and will have to answer for that. At the very least, one would hope he would offer some kind of apology and show remorse as a start.
About Stacey Mickles
Stacey is a 1995 graduate of the University of Alabama who has previously worked for other publications such as Sportskeeda and Saturday Down South.