Today Major League Soccer announced that in celebration of Juneteenth, they have partnered with Black Players for Change and visual artist Tiffany Judah Middleton to fashion jerseys with a unique number design, to be worn by all players this weekend. Middleton, a Black queer artist who calls Brooklyn home, created the numbers – a vibrant yellow, green, and red color palette – to represent the blood, soil, and prosperity of Africa and its people. Game-worn jerseys will then be available for fans to acquire via online auction, with proceeds going to local organizations that support and uplift the Black community.
The jerseys will be sent to fans in commemorative boxes, which serve to reinforce the notion of “Freedom to Be.” Included in the packaging is the powerful Langston Hughes poem, “Freedom.” Also in the box is the timeline detailing Black Players for Change’s (BPC) historic impact on MLS and culture in general, including the momentous #MLSisBlack demonstration of solidarity that is comprised of more than 100 players.
The commemoration and celebration of Juneteenth is the latest initiative in MLS’ efforts to drive positive social change and encourage racial reconciliation. This endeavor is also another example of the growing relationship between MLS and BPC.
Since its inception on June 19, 2020, the BPC organization has helped make a number of notable impacts on the league. Earlier this year, MLS announced a partnership with the National Black Bank Foundation, where the league will leverage “a historic $25 million loan from a syndicate of Black banks.” And in October 2020, MLS unveiled a series of initiatives “aimed at combating racism, advocating for social justice, and increasing Black representation in the sport.”
