The vision behind ASU guard Caleb Christopherʼs Black Lives Matter graphic – The Athletic 7/4/20, 8)45 AM We use cookies to give you the best experience on our site. By using our platform, you consent to our use of cookies. Please see our Cookie Accept Cookie Settings Policy (/cookies)(/cookies) or hit the "Cookie Settings" button here to learn more. You (https://theathletic.com) INVITE FRIENDS (/share/?source=header) The vision behind ASU guard Caleb Christopher’s Black Lives Matter graphic Following Cities NHL (/nhl/) MLB (/mlb/) NFL (/nfl/) NBA (/nba/) CFB (/college-football/) CBB (/college-basketball/) Soccer (/soccer/) Motorsports (/motorsports/) MMA (/mma/) • • • (/podcasts/) (/videos/) (/discussions/) By Doug Haller (/author/doug-haller/) Jun 30, 2020 4 TEMPE, Ariz. — The message appeared on the Arizona State athletics Instagram page, and it frustrated Caleb Christopher. Under the school’s pitchfork logo, it read: “At Arizona State University, we are measured not by whom we exclude, but by whom we include and how they succeed.” As it turned out, it was just the first sentence to a more complete statement, one that deplored the “consistent historical stream of violence against black lives in our country” and promised to work with leaders toward change. But Instagram users couldn’t see the full statement without clicking on ASU’s bio page. Many, including, Christopher, a sophomore guard on Bobby Hurley’s basketball team, were confused by the short message. https://theathletic.com/1902306/2020/06/30/arizona-state-black-lives-matter-caleb-christopher/ Page 1 of 7 The vision behind ASU guard Caleb Christopherʼs Black Lives Matter graphic – The Athletic 7/4/20, 8)45 AM In the comments section under the post, Christopher wrote: “Look @ the comments on behalf of the statement you guys put out. CONFUSION. YALL SHOULD REALLY TAKE THIS DOWN & START OVER.” Christopher expressed similar thoughts during a Zoom meeting with ASU athletics officials and student-athletes. This was personal. A day before the Instagram post, Christopher had been driving home in Carson, Calif., but he couldn’t get to his house. Police had blocked off a neighborhood street. “How should I get home?” Christopher said he asked a police officer. Told to try a different way, Christopher said he started to back out but was stopped. Two other officers approached with flashlights. One instructed him to put the car in park and to put his hands where they could be seen. Christopher heard an officer ask on the radio for a description of a wanted suspect. The reply: a Black male, 5-foot-7 and bald. Christopher stands 6-1. He has hair, which he showed the officers by removing his beanie. He said they still told him to get out of his car. He was searched. His car was searched. Christopher said it made him think how these situations could so easily get out of hand. When an officer grabbed his arms, his first thought was, “Yo, what’s going on?” It was a simple reaction from a 20-year-old who had done nothing wrong. After he was allowed to proceed home, Christopher wanted to do something to bring attention to the incident. He comes from a creative family. Older brother Patrick has launched a clothing line. Father Laron once made an illustration of a young Michael Jackson out of screws. Christopher told his dad and brother he wanted to create something that included a fist (symbolizing black power) and the ASU pitchfork that showed support for Black Lives Matter. He also wanted to include the names of every Black student-athlete on campus. Patrick Christopher suggested having the fist holding the pitchfork. Christopher loved the idea. He began looking up all the university’s Black student-athletes. He FaceTimed Dennis Kennedy, an ASU fan popular on social media for his graphics and animations, many of which include Christopher and younger brother, Josh, an elite prospect who recently signed with the Sun Devils. Christopher explained his idea. Kennedy got to work. When Kennedy finished, Christopher was impressed. Just a first draft? No, Christopher, told him, “you can stop right now.” https://theathletic.com/1902306/2020/06/30/arizona-state-black-lives-matter-caleb-christopher/ Page 2 of 7 The vision behind ASU guard Caleb Christopherʼs Black Lives Matter graphic – The Athletic 7/4/20, 8)45 AM Christopher, a sophomore guard, set out to make his voice heard. (Kevin Abele/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) Senior associate athletic director Scottie Graham knew Christopher was working on something but he wasn’t sure what. “Now a lot of times,” Graham said, “young people say, ‘I’m going to get it to you as soon as possible.'” But then it might take a while. But Christopher delivered. Graham’s reaction upon seeing the Black Lives Matter graphic: “Whoa.” He immediately forwarded it to Jean Boyd, deputy athletics director. It was important to Christopher that he had the support of ASU administration, as well as from Hurley and his staff. Across the athletic department, this has been reflected in several ways since George Floyd’s death in Minneapolis. Coach Herm Edwards and his football staff supported Nolan Matthews after the sophomore tight end posted “Dear America,” a letter he wrote describing what it’s like to be Black in this country (https://theathletic.com/1867004/). Not long after Floyd’s death, ASU had a virtual forum that discussed racial tension and police brutality. Ideas for change were exchanged. ASU leaders also met and discussed how to support Matthews and football teammates Jordan Clark and T Lee, after the trio said they were called the N-word during an evening stop at a local Whataburger restaurant. The players told their story on social media, demanding accountability and resolution, and did media interviews. https://theathletic.com/1902306/2020/06/30/arizona-state-black-lives-matter-caleb-christopher/ Page 3 of 7 The vision behind ASU guard Caleb Christopherʼs Black Lives Matter graphic – The Athletic 7/4/20, 8)45 AM “I have found that if you create a culture where students can legitimately express themselves, you’ll be profound as to what they can do,” said Alonzo Jones, an associate athletic director for inclusion and championship life. “Our goal is to create the space and get out of the way.” Said Graham: “We allow them to be themselves.” Christopher posted the finished Black Lives Matter graphic June 19. He encouraged everyone to learn the importance of Juneteenth, a holiday commemorating the end of slavery in the United States. He thanked ASU athletics officials for encouraging him to be a “part of change.” He credited Kennedy for his work. Ray Anderson @SunDevilRay23 #SunDevilsForChange 0837 16.8K views 6844 PM · Jun 23, 2020 398 111 people are Tweeting about this At 6:44 p.m. on June 23, Vice President of Athletics Ray Anderson posted a 37-second video on his Twitter account. The opening shot was of Sun Devil Stadium at dusk. The camera pans, and the words of Frederick Douglass, narrated by Jones, flash across the screen. “Pardon me, and allow me to ask your shouts of liberty and equality, had I the ability and could reach the nation’s ear? We need the storm, the whirlwind and the earthquake, the feeling of the nation must be quickened. The consciousness of the nation must be roused.” https://theathletic.com/1902306/2020/06/30/arizona-state-black-lives-matter-caleb-christopher/ Page 4 of 7 The vision behind ASU guard Caleb Christopherʼs Black Lives Matter graphic – The Athletic 7/4/20, 8)45 AM As the video unfolds, it shows Christopher’s Black Lives Matter graphic on the stadium videoboard. Clark’s tweet of the Whataburger incident flashes, followed by a screen shot of his father, a football analyst, discussing the incident on ESPN. As the video ends, Christopher’s graphic appears, a powerful end to a powerful message. ASU displayed the Black Lives Matter graphic at Sun Devil Stadium all weekend. When Christopher saw the video, he was floored. He had no idea the school planned to do such a thing. The next step is putting the graphic on T-shirts for each ASU team to wear during their respective seasons. Christopher also said a Black Lives Matters march is in the planning stages, although he doesn’t know how COVID-19 will impact such a get-together. “Just because we’re student-athletes and we’re young doesn’t mean we can’t make a change,” he said. Christopher wants to make a difference on the court as well. As a freshman last season, he battled a wrist injury that limited him to nine games and on average 3.2 minutes a night. He said he’s positioned to make a bigger contribution this season. When it’s suggested he might be the team’s best shooter, Christopher doesn’t hesitate. “I am!” he said. “There’s no question.” But he knows his life as a college student has changed. That he could make an impact beyond basketball. He already has signed up to be part of a group that will further explore ways in which the school can support student-athletes. Christopher isn’t finished. “His thing was: We need to do more,” Jones said. “What can we do? In his own process, he wanted to contribute something. He wanted something a little more grander and bigger, and through his own initiative, and through him being embraced within the Sun Devils Athletic family, he found ways to have an even bigger impact.” (Top photo: Courtesy of Sun Devil Athletics) Doug Haller (/author/doug-haller/)(/author/doug-haller/) covers Arizona State football and basketball for The Athletic.