Proving our progress is Strong
The University of Texas, the last all-white football team to win a national championship, introduced Charlie Strong as its first African-American head football coach Monday morning.
If you understand the politically conservative nature of this state, it's a huge decision made even bigger because now Texas and Texas A&M each have an African-American football head coach.
One day, we hope, that won't be such a big deal. For now, it is.
That will upset some of you. Too bad.
Race remains a part of virtually every meaningful discussion we have in this country, as it should. There's nothing wrong with that. Constructive dialogue is liberating because it promotes growth and understanding.
You could make the argument, as a friend did the other day, that the hires of Strong and Texas A&M's Kevin Sumlin are signs we're progressing as a country, perhaps on par with that of the election of President Obama.
The point has validity, if you think about it.
Some voters cast a ballot for Barack Obama solely because they wanted to see an African-American in the White House, and they would've voted for him regardless of political platform.
Others simply wanted to see someone who looked like them hold our country's most important position. Throw in some moderate conservatives and liberals frustrated with our country's direction who wanted to give Democrats an opportunity to stimulate change ... and you have your first African-American president.
After eight years of Obama, will anyone be shocked if those same moderates provide Republicans with an opportunity to change our country's direction?
http://espn.go.com/dallas/college-football/story/_/id/10254104/hire-charlie-strong-texas-longhorns-first-african-american-head-football-coach-critical-growth-sport-culture