Monty Williams continues to lead during social-justice movement
The Suns recently watched documentary "The Uncomfortable Truth" together in Orlando.
Monty Williams has always enjoyed watching historical documentaries, thanks to his thirst to learn about various people’s backgrounds.
So while scanning Amazon Prime shortly after the killing of George Floyd, “The Uncomfortable Truth” piqued Williams’ interest. White filmmaker Loki Mulholland, the son of Freedom Rider Joan Trumpauer Mulholland, digs into America’s history of systemic racism — and confronts his family’s history of slave ownership.
When it ended, Williams immediately began texting friends and family — including his young-adult daughters — to suggest they carve out time for their own viewing. The coach knew that, whenever the Suns could safely gather again, he would recommend the film to players and “hope it has a thought-provoking impact on them.”
Williams took things one step further. Instead of practicing inside a Walt Disney World gym Sunday, the team watched “The Uncomfortable Truth” together. It was the latest example of Williams’ leadership during the ongoing social-justice movement, by encouraging education, understanding and love while guiding his roster primarily comprised of young Black men.
“We cannot change out history, but we can learn from it,” Williams said Monday on a videoconference with reporters. “I’m not quite sure if we’re learning from it. I’ll do my part. This is an action for me to be with some guys that I care about deeply, and share with them some things that have impacted me.”
As protests and civil unrest swept the United States following Floyd’s death, Williams penned a powerful open letter that expressed his anger, fear and pain. Days later, he spoke to reporters about how to enact change, and where basketball could fit. He vowed to meet with local police departments, politicians and other officials — and to involve the players in those discussions.
“The Uncomfortable Truth” is personal for Williams.
About 10 years ago, he learned his paternal grandfather had traced their family history back to a plantation North Carolina. Monty’s great, great, great grandfather had been purchased by a family named “Williams,” and that is where he got his last name.
“At the time, I was so affected by it, I didn’t even say anything, because I was just blown away,” Williams said. “… The business of slavery is the business of human misery. That’s exactly what it is.
“And to think that people who were in my lineage went through such horrific conditions and a horrific situation, and all the work and sacrifice that so many people did for me to be in this position, it was pretty heavy when (my grandfather) told me about it.”
The film also touches on that, before the Emancipation Proclamation, Abraham Lincoln publicly distinguished between a “superior” and “inferior” race. It mentions redlining, which created institutionalized housing discrimination by denying mortgages to people of color. It also details how the G.I. Bill, which was supposed to assist veterans returning home from World War II, discriminated against Black Americans (and increased the racial net-wealth disparity) because the funds for housing and education were administered by state governments.
The players’ faces at the film’s conclusion, Williams believes, were a sign that repeat viewings and important conversations would follow.
“It’s hard, when you watch this stuff, to not get emotional,” Williams said. “But sometimes the emotion can take you to a place where you can’t recover. I’ve talked to them about, when you find this stuff out, have an understanding heart and try to look at it through the lens of love, so that we can be better going forward.”
Other members of the Suns have recently used their voices to amplify the movement.
General manager James Jones, who was part of the Miami Heat’s iconic hoodie photo to speak out against the killing of Trayvon Martin, has encouraged Suns players to be authentic and educated. Aron Baynes, whose wife is Black, wrote a letter about his upbringing in small-town Australia, his marriage and raising mixed-race children.
Devin Booker called the NBA restart “the perfect platform for all of us to take a stand,” as Black Lives Matter will be painted on the courts and players are permitted to put social-justice messaging on the backs of their jerseys instead of their last names. Jevon Carter, for example, said Sunday that he has chosen the phrase “respect us.”
Williams continues to lead the way. He looks forward to when his two sons are old enough to watch and grasp “The Uncomfortable Truth.” But the film’s message has already been shared with the other young men in Williams’ life.
“He said it was the one thing he had lined up for us this whole time (in Orlando),” Booker said. “He wanted us to watch that film, and it was a really good one.”
Another great article. I really appreciate Coach's leadership and genuineness.
Thanks, Gina. Monty is cut from something different.