MLK Day: The Cost of Looking Away
I chose this image for today’s blog because it’s one of two I’m using with my players on MLK Day 2026.
MLK Day has always mattered. But in the world we’re living in right now, I think it’s also a day coaches quietly decide to ignore — not because they don’t care, but because they’re weighing the potential blowback of acknowledging what the day actually represents. If you coach in a deep-red community, that fear is real. I get it.
But I also think it’s worth remembering: Dr. King wasn’t “controversial” because he was rude. He was “controversial” because he was committed. And he was killed for it.
So here’s how I’m trying to honor him today without doing the usual quote-fest (especially knowing how often Dr. King’s words get cherry-picked and weaponized by people who don’t actually stand for what he stood for).
We’re going to talk about one concept: turning a blind eye.
I’m going to ask my guys to define it. Then I’m going to ask why people choose it — why we willingly ignore harm or injustice happening in our vicinity… or caused by us. And what that kind of silence costs a team, a school, and a society.
Because Dr. King’s life was built on the opposite of blindness. His actions were those of a man unwilling to stay quiet, unwilling to look away, and determined to do something about what he knew was wrong.
Then I’m going to bring it home to them.
I’ll ask them to look for baby steps toward courage in their own lives — starting with themselves. And I’ll ask a specific question:
What’s the red line in our team room, our school hallways, or our team bus that would make you speak up — even if it costs you something?
It won’t take longer than eight minutes.
But I’m hopeful it gives them something real to act on.
Coach Prompts
Where have you “kept it moving” because addressing it felt inconvenient or risky?
What’s one topic you avoid with your team because you’re afraid of blowback — and what does that avoidance teach?
What’s a clear “red line” in your program that you’re willing to name out loud and protect consistently?
How do you model courage: with speeches… or with actions?
Player Prompts
What does “turning a blind eye” look like in your world (team room, hallway, group chat)?
What’s the difference between “staying out of it” and choosing silence?
What’s one moment you wish you would’ve spoken up — and what stopped you?
What’s your red line: what would make you say, “Nah. Not here. Not us.”
