Black Lives Matter | Arizona Diamondbacks

Celebrate Juneteenth

Join the D-backs in celebrating Juneteenth, the oldest nationally celebrated holiday that commemorates the ending of slavery, also known as Black Independence Day. In observance of Juneteenth, June 19, 2022, was a company holiday for the D-backs and all employees used this day for education, reflection and celebration.

On June 18, 2022, the Arizona Diamondbacks Black Professionals & Allies employee resource group hosted several community partners for a celebration at Chase Field. See below for photos from this year’s event.

Learn more about Juneteenth here. See Arizona Freedom Week events here.

We Stand Against Racism

We cannot stand for racism, nor can we be silent when we see it. We stand with all those who have experienced prejudice and hatred, and we are committed to our role in helping make Arizona and this nation a place of equality for everyone.

MLK Day: “A Day On, Not A Day Off”

In remembrance and celebration of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, which has been recognized as a National Day of Service, the D-backs Black Professionals & Allies TPRG and D-backs Give Back hosted a group of Team Players on January 14, 2022 to help paint the new ASU Preparatory Elementary School at Pilgrim Rest, opening this fall. The school will embody a place where its students can indulge in a high-quality learning environment that prides itself on individualizing each student’s learning path. In addition, a portrait of Martin Luther King Jr. was placed front and center for all future students to marvel and draw inspiration from. Renowned Faith Artist Revel was the designer of the painting, and he wants the incredible impact Martin Luther King Jr. had on him to also be felt by the students.

Watch this video to learn more about our MLK Day celebration.

D-backs Give Back Team Players painting the new ASU Preparatory Elementary School at Pilgrim Rest.

Dig In - Make Your Meal Count

Order, enjoy & make an impact! D-backs for Change joined Pepsi in 2021 for the first-ever Dig In Day to support for Black-owned restaurants. The Arizona Diamondbacks hosted a food festival for all D-backs front office staff with catered lunch from various local Black-owned restaurants, including Monroe’s Hot Chicken, Trapp Haus BBQ, Early Bird Vegan and many more!

Make your meals count – see a full list of restaurants in your area here. Upload your receipt(s) from participating Black-owned restaurants to make a difference and to earn prizes and win rewards.

Pepsi Dig In to support Black-owned restaurants

Resources

Join the Movement to fight for Freedom, Liberation and Justice.

Donate now to help the ACLU respond to ongoing threats and seize every opportunity to move freedom forward in 2020.

The National Museum of African American History and Culture has introduced a digital program exploring race, racial identity and its influence on American society.

The Conscious Kid

The Conscious Kid supports organizations, families, and educators in taking action to disrupt racism in young children.

Suggested Readings

Be a Better Ally

The Black Lives Matter and #MeToo movements have forced people in positions of power - namely, the white men who dominate institutional leadership roles - to realize they must personally step up to make organizations more fair and inclusive. That means playing a truly active role in helping marginalized colleagues advance (instead of just delegating diversity efforts to human resources).

How can white men be effective allies to those employees? First, by taking responsibility for their own behaviors, educating themselves about racism and privilege, and getting and accepting feedback from people in underrepresented groups. They can also become confidants to and sponsors of women and people of color and insist on diverse hiring pools and practices. They can vigilantly watch out for bias at work, intervening decisively if they discover it. Last, they can work to build a community of other allies against racism and sexism.” View Article »

The Guide to Allyship

The Guide to Allyship is an open source starter guide to help you become a more thoughtful and effective ally. View Guide »

Black Liberations Reading List

For 95 years, the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture has preserved, protected and fostered a greater understanding of the Black experience. Learn more about the Black experience to help foster understanding and empathy, teach important history, educate on current events, and spark important discussions and conversations. View Reading List »

Be The Change

Our very own Jon Duplantier took part in a MLB Roundtable discussion among African-American players including Sterling Sharp, Josh Bell and Dom Smith. This panel was moderated by Harold Reynolds with Sharon Robinson (Jackie Robinson’s daughter) serving as a special guest.

The Work is Hard and Not Done: Being Black in the Valley

We Will Not Be Silent

Nick Ahmed, D-backs Shortstop

“Knowing that I’m white and that I’ll never fully understand doesn’t change the fact that I have a responsibility. I have a responsibility to listen and learn, to educate myself, to raise my children well and to not just talk about it but to be a part of the change. But the unfortunate fact is that this is not a reality in the way we treat people in our country. Black people have not been treated the same as white people -- not now and not in the past. Oppression, police brutality, racial profiling and lack of justice are the reality for black people in our country. They have not been afforded the same privileges and freedoms that white people have. We all have an opportunity and responsibility to change that in the future.” Read Article »

Jackie Robinson Day

On April 15, 1947, Jackie Robinson broke Baseball’s color barrier when he made his historic MLB debut. Major League Baseball and all Clubs commemorate Jackie Robinson Day each year on April 15.

Robinson was more than a baseball player. D-backs broadcaster Mike Ferrin hosted a few guests to share untold stories about Robinson’s life before and after baseball. At a young age Robinson was an all-star athlete, played football and ran track. As an adult, he was in the military, stationed in Hawaii and transferred just days before Pearl Harbor. Watch this video to learn more about Jackie and hear untold stories from guests.

Guest Speakers:

Dr. Raymond Doswell - Vice President of Curatorial Services at Negro Leagues Baseball Museum
Dr. Michael Long - Author and editor of 42 Today: Jackie Robinson and His Legacy
Leroi Roscoe Chappelle - Father of former Arizona Diamondbacks GM Dave Stewart, native of Phoenix and college competitor of Jackie and Mack Robinson

2020 Opening Day

Major League Baseball and all Clubs used the platform and national stage of Opening Day to be allies and active participants in social change, and to support and amplify voices. Black Lives Matter game elements and merchandise included player workout and batting practice tees, a uniform patch, solidarity footwear, commemorative Black Lives Matter baseballs, base jewels, a stencil behind pitcher’s mound and more.

Negro Leagues 100th Anniversary

Major League Baseball will celebrate the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Negro Leagues in 2020 as a recognition of the men and women who greatly contributed to the history and legacy of our sport. The celebration of the anniversary also will reflect the importance of the Negro Leagues to American society, African-American business/entrepreneurship and infrastructure, all of which then contributed positively to the sport and, ultimately, Major League Baseball.

On Sunday, August 16, MLB and all Clubs will commemorate the 100th anniversary league-wide, as players, managers, coaches, umpires and other on-field personnel will wear a symbolic Negro Leagues anniversary logo patch on NIKE jerseys in all Major League games played that day. The Negro Leagues anniversary logo, a derivation of the official logo created by the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum, also will be featured on base jewels and official dugout lineup cards.

Join Major League Baseball in honoring the men and women of the Negro Leagues who greatly contributed to the history and legacy of our sport. Visit nlbm.com/centennial to learn more.

Pilgrim Rest Baptist Church Technology Donation

On September 24, 2020, the Arizona Diamondbacks Foundation and University of Phoenix presented Pilgrim Rest Baptist Church with 50 Chrome Book Laptops to support their High Achieving Scholars Program. The computers will be used to promote the "T" in “STEM” which stands for “technology.” Students will have an opportunity to access this technology for a variety of purposes while on campus and off-campus; whether it be to receive basic computer literacy skills or learning the basics of coding. Students will also use the computers to receive tutoring and other resources to promote their academic achievement.

D-backs RBI Program

The Arizona Diamondbacks are proud to stand beside Pilgrim Rest Baptist Church to create a memorable and meaningful baseball outreach and training event targeting aspiring young athletes.

The D-backs RBI Program offers free baseball and softball clinics for boys and girls age 6-16. Please check back for future clinic dates.

Remembering Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

January 15, 1929 - April 4, 1968

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was a pioneer and advocate for change. He inspired generations through his commitment to love ALL people. The Arizona Diamondbacks Black Professionals & Allies team player resource group celebrates his life and legacy by sharing a few of their favorite quotes from Dr. King.

Kerry Jenkins

Area Scout

Favorite Quote: "If you can’t fly then run, if you can't run then walk, if you can't walk then crawl, but whatever you do you have to keep moving forward."

With all of the hate that is present in the world right now, personally, it feels difficult at times to continue doing the work. The process of change is slow and tedious, and can feel hopeless at times, so this quote really spoke to me because it reminds us that even if the changes we wish to see aren't immediate, we have to continue doing the work. We can't do it all at once, but we must always keep moving forward.

Shawn Marette

Assistant Director, Player Development

Favorite Quote: "He who is devoid of the power to forgive is devoid of the power to love."

I feel this quote is always relevant but in this current climate it is of even greater importance. We all need to have the power to forgive and learn to love and respect each other. We all need to make an effort to forgive people because hate does not bring people together.

Joe Walsh

Vice President, People & Culture

Favorite Quote: “We may have all come on different ships, but we’re in the same boat now.”

I love this quote as Dr. King reminds us of the reality of our differences, that make our history, our current and our future – and at the same time we are all together; be it in the same boat, family, job, company, state, country or any location. Reality matters and I feel once we can understand his quote, we can accept and appreciate our differences so that trust, empathy and progress can thrive. Where we came from should always be remembered and never forgotten – the reality of togetherness, connection and love is a reality.