Durham Sports Commission Celebrates Black History Month with Panel Discussions
Trip Durham to Facilitate the “DSC Bull Sessions” About Race, Social Justice, and the History of Sports in Durham
February 2, 2021 – In recognition of Black History Month, the Durham Sports Commission (DSC) will host two virtual panels this month to explore the accomplishments and impact of Black athletes, coaches, and changemakers from Durham.
The first roundtable discussions, titled “The Impact of Society in College Athletics,” will center on the world of collegiate athletics with participation from respected athletic administrators and national leadership. The taping is linked here. The second panel focuses more on the influence and history of sport in the Durham community with prominent contributors weighing in on various issues. The second recording is linked here.
“We’re always striving to find more innovative ways to reinforce how sports create social impact and can be transformative for the community at large,” said Marcus Manning, executive director of the DSC. “If you appreciate sports and sports history, you know how athletic events and teams often find a way to bring people together, address change head-on, and pave the way for social progress. Black History Month offers an opportunity for us to dive in deeper on complex, timely topics – I encourage sports fans and casual viewers alike to tune in and learn more about the immediate impression sports are having in shaping Durham and communities across the country.”
With two storied NCAA Division I programs in Durham, the DSC found it important for the first discussion to concentrate on college athletics. Panelists include Nina King, Senior Deputy Director of Athletics/Administration at Duke University; Troy Austin, Senior Associate Director of Athletics/Internal Affairs at Duke University; Dr. Ingrid Wicker-McCree, Director of Athletics at North Carolina Central University; and Stan Johnson, Executive Director of the Minority Opportunities Athletic Association (MOAA). MOAA is under the umbrella of the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics, an association that aims to provide opportunities and exchange ideas, advocate increased participation and administrative opportunities for minorities in athletics. The panel will focus its discussion on student-athlete welfare, the lack of minority hiring in athletics, the ongoing significance of social justice movements, and trailblazing contributions of John B. McLendon who pioneered basketball’s full court press offense and other strategies as a coach at NCCU (then North Carolina College).
The second panel discussion concerning the intersection of sports and community will be shared towards the end of the month. Confirmed panelists include Omar Beasley, Chairman of the Durham Committee on the Affairs of Black People; Umar Muhammad, Founder of USports Consulting and Faculty Athletic Representative at Saint Augustine’s University; and Susan Scott, Chief Growth Officer at UNC-TV. Additional panelist(s) are expected to be added as the filming date approaches. This conversation will be centered on sports impact for youth and minority populations, access to facilities and programming, and celebrate the achievements of local past and present Black athletes.
Both conversations will be facilitated by Trip Durham, founder of 2D Consulting, LLC, and the current public address announcer for Duke Athletics. Durham was previously the President of the National Association of Collegiate Marketing Administrators (NACMA) and the Associate Director of Athletics at Elon University.
Each discussion is expected to be approximately an hour to 45 minutes in length and will be published across the DSC’s website as well as YouTube, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram accounts. The Black History Month roundtable conversations will be the first installments of “DSC Bull Sessions,” a new storytelling initiative from the sports commission that will showcase and explore various topics that are important to the community.