Professional Sports Leagues Show Support for Juneteenth and Pride Month

The social media accounts for America’s top professional sports leagues and teams recognized the federal Juneteenth holiday, which commemorates the emancipation of Black enslaved people in America. This recognition contrasts with how these leagues and teams approached the beginning of Pride Month.

The NFL, the most successful and popular professional league in the U.S., marked Juneteenth on social media by reposting acknowledgments from various teams. This came after the league chose not to mention Pride Month on its June 1 kickoff, missing an opportunity to address the event on its X and Instagram accounts, with their 36 million and 32 million followers, respectively.

However, all NFL franchises except for one acknowledged Juneteenth. In contrast, many teams did not celebrate the start of Pride Month. The New York Jets, Pittsburgh Steelers, Cleveland Browns, Cincinnati Bengals, Tennessee Titans, Kansas City Chiefs, Las Vegas Raiders, Dallas Cowboys, and New Orleans Saints were among those that did not celebrate Pride Month last year either.

Interestingly, the Detroit Lions were the sole NFL team not to acknowledge Juneteenth. Despite their previous support for social justice causes, such as updating their logo to include rainbow colors during Pride Month, they overlooked Juneteenth, a significant day for many Black Americans. The NHL also did not recognize Juneteenth, making it the only major sports league to remain silent, unlike the NBA and MLB.

Despite the NHL’s social media presence at the onset of Pride Month, they did not acknowledge Juneteenth. The Texas Rangers stand as the only MLB team without a designated Pride Month event, yet they observed Juneteenth on Friday.

As players and leagues increasingly engage in social justice causes, their positions can delight or frustrate fans, depending on individual opinions. This shift marks a departure from the formerly sports-focused stance, embracing causes and holidays that align with their values, or choosing to ignore them altogether.

Juneteenth marks the day in 1865 when Union Army Major General Gordon Granger arrived in Texas, announcing the freedom of enslaved people under the Emancipation Proclamation. However, the proclamation did not free slaves in all states before Congress passed the 13th Amendment in January 1865, ultimately freeing enslaved individuals once ratified in December 1865.

President Donald Trump campaigned in 2020 to make Juneteenth a holiday, though it was President Joe Biden who signed the legislation to achieve national holiday status in 2021. Some sports teams, including the NHL and Detroit Lions, might benefit from understanding this context.