Will McClay becomes top Dallas Cowboys official to decry racism, George Floyd death
Will McClay became the highest-ranking Dallas Cowboys front office employee yet to denounce racism and make a cry for change in the wake of George Floyd’s death.
Floyd, an African American man, was killed by a white Minneapolis police officer, sparking racial unrest and protests across the nation, including locally in Dallas and Fort Worth.
Derek Chauvin and three other police officers who were part of the May 25 incident were immediately fired. All four have since been arrested and are facing second-degree murder and other charges.
Several Cowboys players have made statements on social media, including defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence and most notably quarterback Dak Prescott, who is pledging $1 million to improve police training and address systemic racism.
Defensive back coach Maurice Linguist has also spoken out, as has area scout Chris Vaughn. The only white player or white high-level executive on the team to speak out directly to the situation has been backup quarterback Andy Dalton.
The Cowboys organization released a video statement on Friday, but team owner Jerry Jones or coach Mike McCarthy have not offered their own comments on the issue. Twenty other NFL teams had previously made statements denouncing racism.
McClay, the vice president of player personnel and highest ranking African American in the organization, couldn’t hold his peace any longer.
He posted a powerfully raw and authentically heartfelt message on his Facebook account on Thursday night.
McClay’s lengthy 826-word missive was born out of the pain and frustration of a father having to explain what is going on to his 13 year old son that is “witnessing some of the worst of our world (murdering people because of institutional racism) and the best of our world (people coming together to fight institutional racism)”, while also wondering if he will be the next George Floyd if things don’t change.
“Because of the murder of another black man, people all over the world are coming together to show solidarity and fight for change for the better,” McClay said. “There are so many others that fight against change for the better because they feel like better is not inclusive. Then there are others that just try to avoid the situation because life is scary enough with confronting and dealing with someone else’s problems.”
McClay said Floyd’s death and the daily protest has conjured angst inside him that has turned into anger. A Houston native like Floyd, McClay said he grew up in conditions “laid out for him to fail.” He called himself lucky and fortunate as he too could have been a victim of intolerance and ignorance.
“My angst has been because I’m angry,” McClay said. “Angry at the way the world treats and judges people for the color of their skin. I am angry because I have to teach my son how to be prepared to handle being stopped by the police as much or more than I have to tell him to do his homework. I am angry because I have to fight back the words or emotions sometimes when confronted by ignorant close minded people that judge me without knowing me.”
“I am angry because my father fought for this country at the same time my mother was having dogs attack her and water hoses turned on her. I am angry because I am one of the ‘lucky ones’ that have made it this far when it should be a basic human right to achieve what you work for.”
“I am angry because our society doesn’t give itself a chance to be as great as it can be because of ignorance and lack of empathy. I am angry because for some reason there are people that innately feel they are entitled to more than the rest of us just because!”
“I am angry because there are people that would rather spit on people of color than look them in the eye and have a conversation! I am angry because educating ourselves and formulating your own beliefs and values is not the norm. I am mad because my life experience as a black man is no different than my father’s, my grandfather’s or my great grandfather’s.”
“I am afraid that my son’s life won’t be any different, either”.
McClay said he is hopeful that through some miracle a change will come and his son’s generation has the wisdom to see the stupidity of the past and find a better way.
He finished by offering a suggestion to his non-black friends. He linked the documentary 13th at the end of his post and asked them to watch it.
13th is a documentary by Ava DuVernay that explores the history of racial inequality in the United States, focusing on the fact that the nation’s prisons are disproportionately filled with African Americans.
“I hope that those who take the time to watch it become educated and understand why shit is the way it is and have the courage to engage and be different,” McClay said. “This insightful documentary is a tip of the iceberg of information that can be researched so that many more of us can understand. Understand what the deal is and why people that share the blessing of my skin color are angry.”
This story was originally published June 5, 2020 at 9:09 AM.
