Wolves Celebrate Black History

As part of the Timberwolves Fastbreak Foundation’s Black History Month presented by American Family Insurance, the Wolves celebrated black history and leadership at Brooklyn Center’s Northport Elementary.

Wolves broadcaster Lea B. Olson, television analyst Jim Petersen and radio analyst Billy McKinney were on hand to talk with the students about how to make a positive change in their individual communities.

Each student was given a t-shirt with instrumental civil rights activists Jackie Robinson, Rosa Parks, Dred Scott and Nelson Mandela etched across the front. Following a brief introduction from Olson, spoken word artists Torrell and Desdamona Ross presented “Refracted,” which reflected “Legacy, responsibility and how we are all connected.”

Olson then introduced Vernon Hopson, a World War II Tuskagee airman who battled racial prejudice to fulfill his lifelong dream, to become a fighter pilot. Hopson told the students several stories, many of which included how he was able to succeed despite others’ wishes.

“Because of the problems we had, it did change our attitudes,” Hopson said. “After we were discharged, we wanted to fly as civilians. We ended up getting offered to wash the planes, not fly them. It did affect me in that I didn’t pursue a civilian career.”

Hopson also stressed the importance of education, and the importance of staying in school.

“The purpose of education is to get you to think,” Hopson said. “Names, dates, whatnot, (those) aren’t as important. Think what you do before you do it.”

McKinney and Petersen then told stories about their days in and around the NBA. Most importantly, however, they discussed leadership and becoming a better person.

“When I think about the things that changed me, it’s people like Mr. Hopson,” an emotional McKinney said. “His struggle was much deeper than mine. I wanted to be an NBA player from the time I was five years old. I was always told I was too short. Imagine being told that you can’t have things, you can’t accomplish things because of the color of your skin.”

Petersen fielded questions about his height (Are you Shaquille O’Neal?), but also about how to become an effective leader.

“Mr. Hopson is a leader because he’s a trail blazer," said Petersen. "Mr. Hopson blazed a trail so other men of color could become pilots in the military. Sometimes it’s the heroes that we don’t know that are the most important ones, like Mr. Hopson.”

McKinney concluded with a note of encouragement:

“Each and every one of you, if you leave here with anything, think about the strength it takes to overcome criticism, the courage it takes to live your dream, to believe it, to believe in yourself when other people don’t … the courage it takes to advance in a direction that people didn’t think you could advance in,” McKinney said.