Episode 28: Sports & Activism with Bo-Dean Sanders

Mar 30, 2021

This episode of The K.P. Wee Podcast features author, speaker, and former athlete Bo-Dean Sanders. In the ’80s, Bo-Dean transferred from Cheyney University (the oldest HBCU in the U.S.) to Villanova to play on a majority-white football team. His book, Race Against … Against Race: My Journey of Diversity and Inclusion Through Sports, debuted in late 2020.

During the conversation, Bo-Dean shares a lot about his time facing racism in sports in the ’80s. He begins by talking about his early relationship with football and how he wasn’t exposed to diverse teams until at least his teen years. He thanks his upbringing for giving him the ability to empathize with the integrated teams he would eventually play for—especially at Villanova. He encourages listeners to embrace the fact that they can overcome any challenge thrown their way.

Bo-Dean also shares a story about the time he met Charles Barkley and the impact that had on his football career and his life as a whole.

Toward the end of the episode, Bo-Dean digs into the motivation behind writing his book, Race Against … Against Race: My Journey of Diversity and Inclusion Through Sports. He provides strategies for allies of those trying to advance the cause of racial equality, many of which are outlined in the book. He also applauds the work of current activists athletes who are continuing to move the ball forward, as he says, while acknowledging that athletes in the U.S. have “always done this work.” He is thankful for the opportunity to be a spokesman of sorts for racial equality and works to build up the communities of those who are still disenfranchised around the country.

KEY TOPICS: 

•     (01:15) Bo-Dean shares a bit about his background.
•     (02:00) Bo-Dean’s relationship with Howie Long.
•     (10:30) Why Bo-Dean was able to resist bad temptations while in school.
•     (14:30) You can overcome your obstacles.
•     (15:00) Advice to young athletes.
•     (17:20) Bo-Dean’s favorite coach: Tom Landry.
•     (22:00) The time he met Charles Barkley playing college football.
•     (35:50) Bo-Dean recounts how he didn’t encounter diversity until he’d grown up.
•     (36:40) The philosophy of Bo-Dean’s book, Race Against … Against Race.
•     (39:30) Comments on today’s activist athletes.
•     (43:00) Some final thoughts from Bo-Dean about race allyship.
•     (46:00) Bo-Dean weighs in on the Philadelphia Eagles’ 2020 season.

KEY QUOTES:

•     (04:20) “As I would travel around, and ideas and memories came into my head [for the book], I would write them down on paper and throw them in the backseat of my SUV, and over time, I had a whole bunch of paper in the back of my SUV!”
•     (10:00) “Just because I was accepted into Cheyney University as a student did not mean I was automatically given a position on the team: I had to earn my position on the team.”
•     (14:00) “I had to adjust and I had to grow, and I was able to do that through the years thanks to good teachers, teammates and a solid foundation.”
•     (16:00) “If you want to move to the next level, whatever the next level is, you still need to do your homework.”
•     (19:20) “Tom Landry was a leader, and he got a lot of respect across the league.”
•     (19:45) “Terry Hoage was the first player I saw on TV and thought I wanted to play that position.”
•     (31:50) “Just because I’ve never had a white teammate doesn’t mean I can’t treat them with the same level of respect as my black teammates.”
•     (37:30) “If you’re on a diverse team, athletes have those conversations that are centered around race.”
•     (41:15) “Athletes have always played a role in moving the ball forward progressively and in the right direction for race relations.”

To listen to additional episodes, please visit The K.P. Wee Podcast.

About Bo-Dean (from his website):

A native of Jacksonville, Florida, Bo-Dean and his siblings were raised by their single mother. He developed his values by attending his grandmother’s Baptist church. His love of sports began while watching college football on Saturdays and NFL games on Sundays. Bo-Dean began his college football career in 1984 as a walk-on at Cheyney University, the oldest Historically Black College-University (HBCU) in America. He transferred to Villanova University to continue his college football career after Villanova, which had previously dropped football after the 1980 season, reinstated it in 1984. Bo-Dean acclimated to the majority white team and in 1989, earned his varsity ring and jacket.

To learn more about Bo-Dean and his book, Race Against … Against Race: My Journey of Diversity and Inclusion Through Sports, check him out at www.bo-deansanders.com

Twitter: @BoDeanSanders42

Email: [e-mail]

About K.P. Wee:

K.P. Wee is the author of multiple books and a regular contributor to sports radio programs and websites. In addition to hosting The K.P. Wee Podcast, he also enjoys writing sports and psychological fiction with a twist of romance. He spent a decade working as a program developer and instructor for a private school before joining the Vancouver Canadians baseball club’s media relations department.

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