Quarantine Companion #9: A conversation about racial justice with Christopher Blevins and Justin Williams

In this special episode, Payson and Justin are joined by fellow pro cyclist, Christopher Blevins, for a wide ranging conversation about racial justice. Growing up as one of the only people of color in his small mountain town, Chris confronted the realities of race in America from an early age, and has gone on to study criminal justice and prison reform in college. Justin shares his own experiences of growing up in a predominantly black and Latino part of Los Angeles, and how racial inequality was apparent from his early days as an elementary school student as well. They also talk about the problem with expecting athletes to ignore political and social realities and just do their jobs, and how sports can both break down the barriers of racism and reinforce racial stereotypes. They discuss what “defund the police” actually means, and whether or not it’s realistic to hope for change within the hearts of those who discriminate against people of color. They address the merits and limitations of tokenism within athletic marketing, and suggest ways in which to avoid fatigue and cynicism in the face of so many global crises. And last but not least, they double down on the pushup challenge, and learn Chris’s must-haves while in quarantine. 

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