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| Patrice Worthy Publisher, PWorthy Archives |
I think the universal appeal is what drew me in. There were so many countries and Black people represented it was hard to take me eyes off the television. I fell in love with the game and took our soccer ball with us everywhere. We even played in the house. There were days after the shows at New York Fashion Week when we drove to Central Park and played soccer barefoot on the grass. Me in a pretty A-line skirt and him in his button down and khakis running about while the taxi drivers slowed down to watch. One day a tall African man walked up to us and said to me “You’re kicking the ball wrong. Lift the ball with your feet, you’re going to break your toes kicking it that way. And put on some shoes its dangerous.”
Black and talented, we didn’t care, we found freedom in the beautiful game.
I never imagined those days would lead to me covering the first two seasons of Atlanta United including the club’s MLS Cup win. Looking back, I have to acknowledge that my ex was very affluent and that was an advantage to me. It was a tradeoff - he introduced me to golf, soccer and classical music, and I introduced him to the fashion world, art and photography.
I learned fast that the gates I entered were guarded by privilege. Sports like soccer, golf and rugby belonged to a class of people so affluent their sports were rarely broadcast. Times have changed and now it’s a little different but scrolling through social media I’m watching in real time as the Black American community and Americans in general get acclimated to the beautiful game. The discourse surrounding The World Cup has been entertaining, especially during the Argentina vs Cape Verde match. Cape Verde carried the entire Diaspora on its back and that’s what soccer is all about. Observing the conversation without mention of St. Louis and Chicago had been disheartening because those are some tough homegrowns, but that’s a conversation for another time.
What brings me the most joy is watching people take part in the excitement of soccer for the first time, like I did. The gates are flying open and Black and Brown children are being introduced to a world that can change their lives. I commend Mayor Zohran Mamdani for helping to make soccer accessible in New York City and Arthur Blank for doing the same in Atlanta. When Zlatan Ibrahimović and Landon Donovan both criticize the US pay to play youth soccer model its less about money and more about children being kept out of a sport that is a global equalizer.
Though soccer has always been Black globally, it’s been wealthy and white in the US. Learning soccer changed my life. I met people I would’ve never met during soccer matches at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. Soccer is more than just the sport, it’s a culture that Black and Brown children could benefit from, but at $3,500 per child many are still left out.
I encourage everyone to seek out organizations like Soccer in The Streets in Atlanta, Black Star Soccer, and Black Arrow FC who are ushering in a new generation of soccer players in the US. Watching the World Cup is fun but keeping that same energy after its over can only strengthen our global community.
I hope you are enjoying the content.
Sincerely,
Patrice Worthy
Publisher, PWorthy Archives