Today is February 25 and the Navigate the Chaos question to consider is “Are you going to leave, change, or accept your situation?”
Bill Nunn, sports editor at The Pittsburgh Courier, an African-American newspaper that covered sports at black colleges decided to do something.
Beginning in 1950, the paper named a black college all-American football team.
By the late 1960s, Nunn was frustrated that National Football League teams had not drafted more of the players his paper honored.
When he shared his feelings with Dan Rooney, the son of the Steelers’ owner, Art Rooney, he did not get an argument — the Steelers hired him. Nunn began working for the team part time in 1967 and became full time in 1969, the year Chuck Noll became the coach.
Over the next decade, Nunn helped steer the team toward many players who went on to star for the Steelers teams that won four Super Bowls from 1975 to 1980.
Among them were John Stallworth (Alabama A&M), L. C. Greenwood (Arkansas-Pine Bluff), Mel Blount (Southern), Dwight White (East Texas State), Donnie Shell (South Carolina State) and Ernie Holmes (Texas Southern).
Mel Blount said “When you look at the Steelers of the 1970s, none of that would have happened without Bill Nunn.”
In a December 2016, 60 Minutes interview, Denzel Washington was asked “what would you say to the people who are looking at the (lack of African-American winners at the Oscars) process and saying it’s unfair.” Washington responded “Yeah, and so what? You gonna give up? If you’re lookin’ for an excuse, you’ll find one…You can find it wherever you like. Can’t live like that. Just do the best you can do.”
Author Eckert Tolle wrote “When you complain, you make yourself a victim. Leave the situation, change the situation, or accept it, all else is madness.”
Bill Nunn changed the way the NFL recruited African-American players. He made no excuses and did the best he could.
As you go about your day, consider asking yourself if you are going to leave, change, or accept your situation?