Kylin Hill: Sports and Sacrafice

Welcome back to Athletic Anthropology! Today, I am excited to share a story about the sacrifices taken by some athletes to create change in their communities. Kylin Hill, an active NFL running back has a truly special story regarding his drive to resist injustice. So, without further a due, let's learn his story.

  The southern US has become known for its confederate imagery, made clear through the number of statues and imagery, which some claim is simply the culture of the south. Mississippi State running back Kylin Hill wanted to speak out about confederate imagery on the state flag and decided to use his platform to do so. The Mississippi native had become a top high school recruit after dominating competition around the state. Hill wanted to make a change in his community and announced on Twitter that he would not play in the 2020 season if the state did not remove the confederate imagery from its flag 108. Kylin recounted how he and other players had faced racist verbal harassment in Mississippi. Hill was surprised by the comments made by others because the same people insulting him were cheering for him just ½ a mile away in the football stadium 109. His efforts were part of a campaign by college players to speak out about inequality and reclaim their names. They worked to advocate for Name, Image, and Likeness deals that helped end the exploitation of college athletes and ensured that they could speak out against injustices they witnessed in their community.

 Hill explained that he wanted to use his platform to advocate for the black population of Mississippi. The state has one of the largest relative black populations with nearly 38% of the overall population. Thus, the confederate battle flag featured on the state flag was hurtful to people of color in the state as it advocated for the continuation of slavery. Additionally, a white supremacy group called the Dixiecrats used the confederate battle flag throughout the 1940s. The right-wing group advocated for segregationist policy and wanted to deny black people rights across Mississippi and Missouri. Hill’s tweet went viral as fans across the country began talking about the impact that his decision would have on his team. 

Kylin used his platform to talk about his upbringing in Sandfield, Mississippi. His hometown was known for violence, and Kylin’s cousin and a childhood friend were shot and killed during his time there. Kylin talked about how football helped him stay away from gangs and violence. Hill's comments on the flag and his childhood reflect his desire to create change and uplift his community. The flag debate started in 2015 and continued until 2020, with intense debate from both sides. The NCAA supported Kylin by banning any college in Mississippi from hosting a postseason game or championship. These events were essential to the economy of Mississippi as sports fans from around the country, especially the south, traveled to the state to watch football, basketball, baseball, and softball games. These sanctions' potential economic impact was enough to convince lawmakers to change their state flag. In 2020, the state adopted a new flag that featured a magnolia flower, the state flower of Mississippi. Kylin’s story is one of many in which collegiate athletes have used their influence to enact change in their communities. The Green Bay Packers would eventually draft Kylin, giving him the chance to continue using his platform to create change.