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COMMENTARY: Baseball growing more diverse off the field, if not on

MINNESOTA SPOKESMAN-RECORDER — MLB Commissioner Robert Manfred’s office has in recent years implemented a number of diversity initiatives: Each MLB club is required to provide a plan for increasing the diversity of its staff as part of the Diversity Pipeline Program, and the Diversity Fellowship Program was started in October 2017 to provide opportunity for young professionals to train and gain experience in traditionally influential baseball operations front office jobs.

Published

5 years ago

May 26, 2019

Oakland Post

By Charles Hallman, Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder

Conclusion a two-part column

Despite its overall paucity of Blacks on the field, baseball has shown a significant increase in racial hiring off the field.

According to the 2018 MLB Racial and Gender Report Card by The Institute for Diversity and Ethics in Sport (TIDES), nearly 34 percent of MLB Central Office professional staff are people of color (10 percent Black, 14.9 percent Latino, 5.7 percent Asian and 3.1 percent other).

Women employees make up almost 32 percent of the total front office staff, and there has been a 2.2 percent growth in team vice-presidents of color (11.7 to 13.9) from 2016 to 2017. People of color also make up around 24 percent of senior executive-level personnel, with the same percentage for women.

Rene Tirando / Photo by Charles Hallman

MLB Commissioner Robert Manfred’s office has in recent years implemented a number of diversity initiatives: Each MLB club is required to provide a plan for increasing the diversity of its staff as part of the Diversity Pipeline Program, and the Diversity Fellowship Program was started in October 2017 to provide opportunity for young professionals to train and gain experience in traditionally influential baseball operations front office jobs.

Manfred told Pohlad Family Foundation Vice-President and Executive Director Susan Bass Roberts in their “diversity conversation” at the August 23 Minnesota Twins Diversity Celebration that these initiatives and others designed to improve diversity aren’t talked about enough. His office got an A-plus for racial hiring on the TIDES report, an improvement from the A-minus in 2017.

Renee Tirado has been MLB’s first-ever diversity and inclusion officer since 2017 and is mainly responsible for MLB’s diversity programs. She is among the 25 women vice-presidents in the Commissioner’s office.

She told the MSR, “The Commissioner is 100 percent [supportive].”

Also in town for the Twins event, Tirado said of MLB’s diversity efforts to date, “It’s been a huge success. At a minimum, we have a pool of people who are committed to our game. We are doing this in a strategic way. [But] we are not going to flood MLB all at one time.”

Manfred also supports the “Selig rule,” named for his predecessor Bud Selig, that mandates Blacks and other people of color must be interviewed for club openings. But he stressed that ultimately, what he wants to see created are “opportunities that will turn into job opportunities” in order to achieve sustained diversity.

MLB Commissioner Robert Manfred’ / Photo by charles Hallman

The commissioner also bemoaned a possible sticking point in this endeavor: Many of baseball’s “high quality” entry-level jobs don’t always attract recent college grads looking for work that not only pays a decent or better wage, but helps them pay off college debts as well.

“I have been impressed with the candidates we’ve placed,” Tirado said of the Diversity Pipeline Program and the Diversity Fellowship Program. TIDES reported that out of 64 “assisted hires,” 24 are full-time, 33 are interns and seven are part-time. “We have over 1,000 applicants,” she added.

“We have invested over $2 million in the last three years with minority-, women-, LGBT- and veteran-owned businesses,” Tirado said about the Diverse Business Partners program that is designed to cultivate new and existing partnerships with such underrepresented small businesses. “We are very proud of that and continue to aggressively [see] those numbers increase.”

Baseball diversity is similar to the sport itself — slow-paced, but ultimately it will get there, stated Manfred and Tirado. “I think it is too soon to access long-term devotion [to diversity efforts],” Tirado said. “The game is slow and [diversity] is not a race. But I promise you, we will win this.”

This post originally appeared in the Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder.

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OP-ED: The Illusion of Allyship. White Women, Your Yard Signs Mean Nothing to Me

NNPA NEWSWIRE – “The blue bracelets are something White women are wearing so others can see that they didn’t vote for Trump,” says Liberal Lisa from Oklahoma on X. Chile, bye. These bracelets are hollow symbols, empty gestures that mean nothing to me. An accessory to claim distance from Trump’s legacy is superficial comfort, while the choice to not stand with us in the voting booth is far more profound.

Published

2 weeks ago

November 9, 2024

Oakland Post

Political yard signs can symbolize intentions and allegiance. But this year, they’ve also symbolized betrayal. During this general election, Black women were led to believe that more White women would stand with us. Exit polls, however, told a different story. Despite overwhelming displays of support, more White women still chose to vote for the convicted felon, reality TV star, and rapist. White women answered the call but left us hanging at the polls.

A Familiar Disappointment

I live in DeKalb County, Georgia, and the abundance of Harris-Walz yard signs could’ve fooled me. But I’ve seen this before, back when Stacey Abrams ran for governor. White women showed up, put up signs, attended rallies, knocked on doors, and phone-banked. Yet, when it came time to vote, they let us down—not once but twice. I’ve been here for over 15 years, and if there’s one thing I know, it’s that political signs are symbols without weight.

In every election, I’ve talked with White women. Most aren’t the primary earners in their families and vote along party lines, aligning with the preferences of their fathers and husbands. These conversations reveal a reluctance to break from tradition, even when their votes affect women and certainly when their votes impact the lives of people who look like me.

The Illusion of Solidarity—Symbols Are Not Enough

On social media, I’m seeing White women posting pictures of blue bracelets to “prove” they didn’t vote for Trump. “The blue bracelets are something White women are wearing so others can see that they didn’t vote for Trump,” says Liberal Lisa from Oklahoma on X. Chile, bye. These bracelets are hollow symbols, empty gestures that mean nothing to me. An accessory to claim distance from Trump’s legacy is superficial comfort, while the choice to not stand with us in the voting booth is far more profound.

I’ve seen Black Lives Matter signs and black squares posted on Instagram to “prove” support for Black people, but we now know that was a lie, too. Will those same people who claimed Black lives mattered now take down their Harris-Walz signs and show their true selves?

Navigating these truths is a daily struggle for me—professionally and socially. White women often misuse their privilege, supporting us only when it’s convenient. Seeing overqualified Black women sabotaged or abandoned by White women at critical moments is a constant emotional challenge. It’s exhausting to live with this reality, especially when solidarity seems like something they pick up and discard at will.

One clever campaign ad from Harris-Walz that spoke directly to White women. “Your Vote, Your Choice” emphasized that their vote was private—independent of their household situation. Another was from Olivia Howell Dreizen, the “Vote Without Fear” campaign, which empowered women to consider the greater impact of their choices. But it seems many still couldn’t choose the roadmap to freedom—even when it was handed to them.

A Call for Action Beyond Words

White women, I want to believe you care, but actions speak louder than yard signs, bracelets, or Instagram posts. Show up in our communities, advocate in your workplaces, and stand up to dismantle the structures that uphold white supremacy. Only through real action will we know where you stand.

If you choose not to act, we see you—and we know exactly where you stand. Good luck these next four years.

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of BlackPressUSA.com or the National Newspaper Publishers Association.

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Supernova Parenting Conference Empowers Over 100 Parents with Resources for Neurodivergence and Mental Health

The inaugural Supernova Parenting Conference was co-hosted by Natasha Nelson, known as Supernova Momma, and Yolanda Walker, founder of Parenting Decolonized. It brought together over 100 parents, caregivers, and educators dedicated to fostering understanding and support for neurodivergent children and mental health challenges. The conference provided invaluable resources, expert insights, and a collaborative space for […]

Published

2 weeks ago

November 7, 2024

BlackPressUSA.com

The event featured a variety of workshops, panel discussions, and keynote speeches from leading experts in neurodiversity and mental health. Attendees left with practical tools and strategies to enhance their parenting journeys, emphasizing the importance of understanding and supporting the unique needs of neurodivergent children.

“While the conference was a tremendous success, we believe that our work doesn’t end here,” said Natasha Nelson. “It’s crucial to continue providing ongoing support and resources for parents as they navigate this important journey. We want to ensure families can access the tools they need long after the conference.”

To extend the momentum generated at the conference, Natasha and Yolanda are excited to announce the launch of the Supernova Parenting Community. This membership-based initiative aims to offer a safe and supportive environment for parents and caregivers to continue their growth as conscious parents.

Membership is available for as little as $5 a month via Patreon, making it accessible for all families seeking support.

“We know that parenting can be a challenging journey, especially when navigating neurodivergence and mental health issues,” Yolanda Walker added. “Our goal is to build a community where parents feel seen, heard, and supported. We hope you’ll join us in this vital work.”

For more information about the Supernova Parenting Community and to sign up for membership, please visit supernovaparenting.org