Deontay Wilder tackles racism, police brutality and Donald Trump
WBC heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder discusses racism in America and President Donald Trump’s comments about NFL players.
During the 1960s, Muhammad Ali refused to be inducted into the Army and was highly critical of the United States’ involvement in the Vietnam War. Like Ali, WBC heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder is daring to break his silence and is speaking out about the social injustices that he sees present in American society.
Wilder quickly rose to prominence as an amateur boxer. He picked up boxing at the age 19 out of desperation. He was surprised to learn that he impregnated his girlfriend and then devastated to learn that his unborn child had spina bifida. In 2005, he entered the Skyy Boxing gym in the hopes that he could use his fists to provide for his family.
Wilder had overwhelming success as an amateur and won the bronze medal at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing. Seven years later, he defeated Bermane Stiverne to win the WBC heavyweight title, which he still holds today.
Wilder is currently preparing to defend his title for the sixth time in a long-awaited rematch with Bermane Stiverne on Nov. 4. While boxing is still on his mind, Wilder is also consumed with the racial and political strife that he sees in American society.
In August, Wilder took part in a march in Chicago protesting the violence that continues to plague the city. On Facebook, Wilder posted a meme criticizing President Trump’s choice to chastise NFL players but not be as crass toward Las Vegas shooter, Stephen Paddock.
In a recent interview at his training camp, Wilder discussed his views further.
“I’ve been silent for a long time. I’ve been silent for a long time as champion,” Wilder said. “The things that have been going on, with all the police brutality and killing innocent black people.
“Breaking the laws. I just saw a video last night of a police breaking law, shooting an innocent, poor man in the back. That’s against the law.”
Wilder continued: “He shot that man in cold blood, just like that. He [the victim] just had a backpack on, just fleeing the scene. It was three or four cops around him, and he [a police officer] just shot him, three or four shots. Not just one shot, but three or four shots and no justice.”
“Not just one shot, but three or four shots and no justice. You see kids getting shot, and no justice.”
Wilder feels a responsibility to use his position as heavyweight champion to speak up and exercise his first amendment rights. The boxing champion recognizes the issue has been exacerbated by the man in the White House, and in particular the message he sent when he referred to white supremacist protesters in Charlottesville as “very fine people.” That quote came a month before President Trump called kneeling NFL players sons of b***hes.
Wilder thinks Trump’s message to black America is clear: “He don’t give a damn about us,” Wilder said. “It’s plain as day. He don’t give a f**k about us. That’s not making America great again.
“All the things I’ve labeled and named, what black people have done, that’s just half of it. We’re part of creating this country but we get no respect, we get no credit for nothing. For nothing we’ve done. We just want peace. We just want to be equal, that’s all. Equal.”
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President Trump has drawn the ire of numerous athletes due to his combative statements toward the Golden State Warriors and NFL players who choose to kneel during the national anthem. Wilder’s comments are among the most direct any athlete has made during Trump’s presidency.