More Than a Hashtag

by Jeff Baidoo

My parents immigrated from Ghana, West Africa to Canada before I was born. It didn’t take them long to recognize their best path to integrating into the Canadian culture was through hockey. Duh, right?

They also quickly learned that hockey hasn’t always been the easiest sport to integrate into as a Black, Latino, Indigenous or person of another race. I still remember being told as a kid that I had to play ringette first, because the youth association in Canada didn’t quite think I had the skills, as a Black boy, to actually play hockey.

Hockey is, in my opinion, the greatest sport on earth. And like in Canada, Minnesota shares that same passion and enthusiasm for that game that makes it apart of the state’s identity and culture.

Because we love this game so much, we get very protective of it. Defensive.

‘What do you mean this sport isn’t welcoming? It sure is! I welcome everyone. #HockeyIsForEveryone!’’

I get it. We all like to think we have the best intentions, but there is nothing wrong with admitting that acceptance in hockey hasn’t and isn’t always there. There are still barriers for people of color. Using those hard conversations to point out the wrongs is how we start to make a change toward right. Together. As allies to remove racism and take more steps to making #HockeyIsForEveryone ring true.

When Minnesota Hockey approached me about the opportunity to become the organization’s first ever equity advisor, I was honored. My goal is to work together with our committee and State of Hockey communities to start the conversation, change the culture and help initiatives that promote diversity and inclusion in associations throughout the state.

Conversations are starting. They’re happening. Learning is taking place and the biggest piece to help us change is education stemming from that learning and those conversations.

I challenge you, after you’re done reading this, to get uncomfortable. Seek out those conversations and challenge your empathy. By admitting there’s a problem it’s not assigning blame or pointing at faults. It’s something that we are addressing. It’s about awareness and empowering kids who come from diverse backgrounds to fall in the love with the sport like we all have.

Hockey is for everyone is more than just a hashtag. It truly is a sport that truly can be for everybody. Whether you parent, play or just enjoy, it’s up to us in and around the sport to make it as welcoming and safe as we possibly can.

Jeff Baidoo is a member of the Minnesota Wild fan relations team and volunteer equity adviser for Minnesota Hockey. He can be reached atjbaidoo@minnesotahockey.orgwith any questions, as can the committee atdiversity@minnesotahockey.org