Q and A: Skyforce Celebrates Black History Month

Along with the NBA and G League, the Sioux Falls Skyforce honors Black History Month. We spoke with Head Coach Kasib Powell and our players on several topics regarding Black History Month and what it means to them. 

Kasib Powell 

Q: What does Black History Month mean to you?
A: It's a reminder to celebrate yourself, your community and our past. It should be something that we should celebrate every month, but this month specifically, is extra to think about different black leaders that have paved the way. It's a reminder of our heritage and what those before us helped build for today.

Q: Who are some black figures you looked up to growing up?
A: Michael Jordan and Muhammad Ali of course. Those are the two that I looked up to as a kid growing up sports wise. But also Malcom X, Martin Luther King, Jr. and Louis Farrakhan. They all resemble strength, power and legacy.

Q: What is a way to honor Black History Month in your everyday life?
A: Taking the time to learn of the history. I think sometimes we get lost in not focusing on the history of those who paved the way. We could do a better job of that on an every day basis, not just this month.

Q: How important is it for the NBA/G League to show homage the way they do?
A: It is great and crucial to do. The G League and NBA has so many eyes on it and so many follow it. Whether we have Black History Month apparel on, or talking about it on broadcasts, or whatever type of content is out there, it just brings more awareness and eyes to it.

Q: How can we teach/learn about Black History Month?
A: Just by doing your research and listening to each other. Those are the best ways to teach and learn about Black History month. A lot can get accomplished by doing those two things effectively.

Mario Chalmers

Q: What does Black History Month mean to you?
A: It is a time for us to celebrate our culture and history. Really to take a step back and see who and what has gotten us to this point. But also where we can go, too.

Q: Who are some black figures you looked up to growing up?
A: Martin Luther King and Malcolm X are two of the popular ones. The way they went about different things and changes they made around the world to try and bring everyone together is something I admire. My dad is another one, watching him do different jobs. Knowing his whole thing was wanting to play basketball and he showed me strength at a young age.

Q: What is a way to honor Black History Month in your everyday life?
A: Just dive into a little bit of Black History any time you can. There is a lot of history we don't even know about, or isn't being taught. Taking the time to just look up what the African American culture has done for us as a society.

Q: How important is it for the NBA/G League to show homage the way they do?
A: It is a huge platform and we have a lot of those to display our culture. The NBA and G League are one of the biggest platforms out there for sports entertainment. So for them to spotlight and shed understanding of what it means is crucial to players, fans and everyone else involved.

Q: How can we teach/learn about Black History Month?
A: The history didn't start in the Civil Rights Movement. But that is a place I would direct people. It was a major moment in time where a lot of things were brought to light. A lot of things happened when you think big picture across hundreds of years, in a short amount of time. That is where I would send people, because that is the part where change really started to happen.

Trey Mourning

Q: What does Black History Month mean to you?
A: It reminds me of my mother. Every year for Black History Month in elementary and middle school, she would be in charge of the BHM program at my school. I went to predominately white institutions and there weren't a lot of black kids and our history wasn't as big of a priority. My mother, being a strong black woman that she is and having studied at at Howard University, took the initiative to come and help teach. She would help bring in speakers, singers and performers - a bunch of artists and it really helped teach us about black history.

Q: Who are some black figures you looked up to growing up?
A: My parents really stick out to me as black figures. I really looked up to them and still do, as well. Just the work they do in the community. They are such great people and they do so much for South Florida and they have really inspired me to make a positive change.

Q: What is a way to honor Black History Month in your everyday life?
A: Just to highlight the influence of black culture on everything we do in this country and the world. We have touched so many different corners of the world and there are a lot of people who love black culture, but don't love black people. That is really an issue and something we need to work on as a country. You can't love one without the other. It just doesn't make sense. Black people make a difference in this world every single day, every minute of every day.

Q: How important is it for the NBA/G League to show homage the way they do?
A: It is so important because black people built this league. Six black coaches were hired in the last year in the NBA, which is record breaking. The league still has a majority of black players in it. Thinking about the history of the game, players like Bill Russell who is on the walls in the Pentagon. I highlight him in particular because he was so successful in a sport during a time when it was hard to do so for black people in this country. He fought through what he was facing and did it because it was the right thing to do. It is and was bigger than race for him and he helped pave the way in the NBA for future generations to come.

Q: How can we teach/learn about Black History Month?
A: The Civil Rights Movement was so important. If I were to send people one place, I would send them to the National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington, D.C. It is truly one of the most remarkable museums on earth. It does an amazing job telling the story of our people from the start until now. It's so important that we know our history, because for example, my last name was not Mourning before my ancestors got here. There is so much history, too, before we even got to America.

Chandler Hutchison

Q: What does Black History Month mean to you?
A: It is a time to give respect to the people who pioneered their way and broke barriers down so we can live the life we live right now. It's a month of reflection and thankfulness.

Q: Who are some black figures you looked up to growing up?
A: Kobe Bryant, Magic Johnson, Michael Jordan to name a few that are sports specific. These are guys that walk and look like us. They broke down barriers, too, for us to have the platform we have now.

Q: What is a way to honor Black History Month in your everyday life?
A: Leading by example. Do things that are inspiring the way for younger African Americans. Being a figure in young people's lives that they can look up to in the next generation. That is a way of life, not just in one specific month.

Q: How important is it for the NBA/G League to show homage the way they do?
A: They are on the same page, being in sync with the shirts and respect paid. I love it and it's something I know other players love, too.

Q: How can we teach/learn about Black History Month?
A: There are so many different things to learn about. In every decade, there is great history. I would point someone to the MLK and Civil Rights Movements, because that was really the turning point for African Americans in this country.

Brandon Knight

Q: What does Black History Month mean to you?
A: It is a month where we recognize those that came before us and the sacrifices made to get to where we are today, when we talk about slavery and oppression. Not losing sight of what came before us and to ensure we pay homage to the names known and unknown so that we can sit here and talk today. It's not just about February, it's about keeping that momentum going. I really just talking about love. The people before us had to love to see the vision of what they wanted life to be for their kids, grandkids and future generations. I am just super grateful.

Q: Who are some black figures you looked up to growing up?
A: The usual's for sure, Malcolm X and and Rosa Parks, to name a few. We know their story. There are countless stories that we don't hear, that have sacrificed - I am thankful to those known and unknown; the ones that led and ones that we didn't hear about. It is a collective thing. We need to keep that in mind and keep it going for the future generations.

Q: What is a way to honor Black History Month in your everyday life?
A: For me, it is about loving, that's my biggest thing. I am always going to teach my family and anyone I care about, that love covers a multitude of sins. It binds things into harmony. If I could love more, if you could love more. If we teach that basic principle, a lot of things that we go through wouldn't have a chance.

Q: How important is it for the NBA/G League to show homage the way they do?
A: I think it is super important to recognize that the NBA recognizes who the audience is and what the identity of the NBA is. It is a majority black league and that is no disrespect to Caucasian or foreign players in the slightest. Understanding what the NBA does is based on African Americans. They do a great job of highlighting black culture and we appreciate that. We can use our culture, which is really strong, to help lift up other cultures, too.

Q: How can we teach/learn about Black History Month?
A: You have to research it for yourself. A lot of people learn from information that is passed down, trying to seek truth. We weren't there for a lot of the things that have happened. The overall narrative, you have to form that for yourself. I am not a Black History scholar, but I am thankful for the people that we don't talk about.

Photo Credit: Nathan Meyer Photography and Designs