Ross Williams: Student, Athlete, Activist

April 7, 2021

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Ross Williams was not content only making a difference for himself when he transferred to Colorado Christian University, where he just completed his first season on the men’s basketball team. “The school is a very white environment and Colorado is a very white state. Coming here, I know I made a lot of people uncomfortable with my long hair and the way I look,” he admitted. “I felt like I was a rare commodity in this community. I wanted to start speaking up. My main point in coming to an environment like this, where so many people have lived in a secluded bubble, is to give others the chance to know people like me that they may not have ever met. It is not a Black versus white thing, but just to help inform people who haven’t experienced what it is like in the real world of two Americas.”

The Basketball Part

He played his first two seasons at NAIA (National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics) Menlo College, where he also became close friends with another student activist George Hofstetter. “I wanted to go someplace where I could make an immediate impact as a freshman. I had a decent year that first year, but then took a huge step my sophomore year both in my role on the team and as a leader on campus,” he remarked.

After averaging 4.8 points per game as a freshman, he earned a spot on the 2020 All-Golden State Athletic Conference Team and honorable mention NAIA All-America honors as a sophomore. He averaged 16.0 points per game, shooting 47 percent from the field and 43 percent from three-point range. Menlo earned its first NAIA Division I Men’s Basketball Championship appearance in program history before the tournament was canceled because of COVID-19.

“Wanting to be a professional basketball player, I thought it was in my best interests to transfer to (NCAA Division II) Colorado Christian. The head coach (Liam Simmons) a former pro head coach in New Zealand. He is also the brother of Ben Simmons (NBA Rookie of the Year in 2018 and current player for the Philadelphia 76ers). He is looking to change the directory of the program and it was a chance for me to go up a level in competition to further my opportunities,” Williams pointed out.

In his first year with the Cougars, he averaged 19.8 points per game, which ranked fifth in the conference, while shooting 41.8 percent from three-point range. He joined fellow transfer Andy Stafford on the All-Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference team, becoming the first set of Colorado Christian teammates to earn all-conference honors in the same season since 2009-10.

“We had some struggles early on with players stepping away from the team and others joining the team after the winter break. People were adjusting to one another in a weird and uncertain year. It was psychologically difficult to navigate, especially when you don’t know who can play based on COVID-19 tests,” he revealed. “We tried to stay consistent and during the final stretch (when the Cougars won their final three contests), we started having fun out there and finished strong. One of the things we learned during the pandemic is that any day you get the chance to play is a blessing. You never know when that could be taken away from you again. We may all have different aspirations within and after the game, but never take for granted the chance to play the game.”

More Than an Athlete

Williams was determined to be as active off the court as he was on it. “We started a multicultural group within athletics. The Athletic Director (Brian Wall) and Associate AD (Christy Hinch) were extremely involved in bringing together student-athletes of color and those not of color to have conversations about events on and around campus,” he explained. “People of color had experienced multiple racial incidents. I had been called names walking down the street and had been refused service around the city. I wanted to bring that to light to see how we could make change from within and move forward.”

As the conversations about race and racism ensued, the national anthem became a major topic. “It was so conflicting because Colorado Christian had never been confronted about these questions or issues before. With the storming of the capitol and so many instances of police violence, I went to Coach Simmons and later to the AD and said we need to take a stand,” Williams recalled. “What is going on in our country and around our campus is not okay. For a few games, we decided to stay in the locker room during the national anthem. We have people on the team with strong military ties who didn’t feel comfortable kneeling. We did not want anyone to portray us as disrespecting our soldiers because we are thankful for them. At the same time, we have a voice and are going to use our platform.”

The flag causes a wide array of perspectives. “Not everyone sees the same thing when they see the flag. The nation is treating people who look like me and other ethnic minorities with hate and a lot of discriminatory actions and judgments by police and people in the government. It makes it hard to consider myself an American or proud to be an American,” he described. “In the stage where we were staying in the locker room, we got together with the AD and formed a statement to be read before the games accompanied by a moment of silence followed by a prayer. We started reading that before every home game and then linked arms during the national anthem. We didn’t want to have some people kneeling and some people not because others would start to formulate opinions about what that meant and that we were not supporting each other. We were unified in spite of our different ties to the flag. We all realize that things in our country are not right. We need to acknowledge that there needs to be change.”

Williams was inspired by players from all backgrounds finding common ground. “It was extremely empowering and gave me a lot of hope for the future. A lot of my teammates were from secluded bubbles and didn’t know the convictions behind why people in various places were kneeling during the national anthem. We talked and created an environment where questions were encouraged and people were asked to stand in one another’s shoes,” he recollected. “We took it upon ourselves to be pioneers on campus and to spread it to other teams. We had warmup shirts that said love and unity with a scripture. We are not creating divisions by race, but rather becoming one in the only race, the human race. It gives everyone a chance to be themselves, coming together as one group seeking to blaze a steady trail of change.”

Oakland

Although he was born in Detroit and lived in other major cities like Philadelphia, New Orleans, and Atlanta, Williams acknowledges that Oakland has had the greatest impact on him. “I have had the opportunity to experience so many different cultures. I moved to Oakland in my junior year of high school. It is one of a kind with such a rich history and so much pride in it from those who live there,” he remarked. “The grind is incredible, and people have such conviction being from there, a blue-collar, nitty gritty, get it done by any means necessary city. That is what is so beautiful about it. Oakland screams change and embraces diversity and inclusion. There have been so many extraordinary people from there who have made monumental changes in our society. The culture of being from there empowers people to be trailblazers and agents of change. The air and vibe of Oakland breeds that into you.”

Williams credits his time in Oakland with an increased confidence to speak out on important issues no matter where he is. “The city allows you to be unapologetically you, to stand on your own 10 toes at all times, to speak up if someone or something is being neglected. That mindset was bred into me. I can walk into any situation, no matter who is there, and speak my mind freely and intelligently with a purpose,” he commented. “I state firmly what I believe, but another thing about Oakland is that you better come correct and with solutions. You can’t just say something is wrong without bringing alternatives to make it better. Whatever situation you are in, you have a responsibility to leave it better than you found it. It is my duty to do that. At Colorado Christian, that meant starting uncomfortable discussions on campus that may not have been done before.”

His Hair and Appearance

“I have talked to my parents so many times about the importance of our hair. What may look unkempt to some people is me expressing myself. It is a symbol that you can’t judge a book by its cover. When you see someone with wild, curly hair that takes on a personality of its own, you tend to make a lot of assumptions. For some people, that doesn’t fit with the fact that I am extremely articulate and informed, educated on a wide variety of topics and issues,” he stated. “I want to be that person who keeps someone from judging the next person with hair like mine, perhaps to think, ‘Ross has hair like that, and he is genuine.’ George and I started growing out our hair at the same time, almost like a silent protest together. There are so many labels for people who look like me. I want to be a walking sledgehammer to those societal ‘norms,’ to defy stereotypes and break down barriers every day. There is nothing sweeter than that.”

Williams with his siblings, mother, and stepfather

His Faith

“The conversations on our team started with one teammate bringing up that it is extremely important to know the difference between being a patriot and being a patriot and a Christian. Sometimes they get mixed up in this country, that because one is a Christian, they must be patriotic and vice-versa. That put me in a unique religious position. There are so many people from so many different places in the Bible who came together. God is the ultimate unifier and we are all created in his image,” he expounded. “The religious piece really brought us together. We are all so different, but all so similar in our faith. The minute differences make us different, but beautiful. Through our faith in God, we come together as brothers and sisters in Christ. That has been the best part of being on this campus, growing my faith. Our relationships with God won’t all be the same, but it can bring us all together in the end.”

Beyond Pro Basketball

Even with his immediate focus on a professional basketball career, Williams never loses focus on his long-term vision. “I often think about what my legacy is going to be. What impact will I have once I am done with basketball? I want to create a business/company/service that provides adequate representation for people who cannot afford court costs,” he explained. “In our legal system, so many people were simply in the wrong place at the wrong time and are mistakenly convicted. Any time a Black male or female serves jail time and is ripped away from the family structure, it is detrimental to the family, but also to the community as a whole.”

Williams grew up in a single-parent home until his stepfather came into the family. “The statistics prove how hard that is for the parent and the children. There are so many opportunities lost or not experienced. It wears on you, even as a child. I saw firsthand how hard a single parent works just to make ends meet. No sacrifice was too great for my mother. She is a superhero to me and is the reason I am in the position I am today,” he informed. “People can’t afford to be in the judicial system, literally or figuratively. I haven’t figured out the details of how I will accomplish this dream of mine, but I know I will. The legal system is so flawed, there are so many cracks that need to be fixed for there to be a level playing field.”

Williams with his mother

He notes that the prison system is a major hurdle facing many ethnic minorities. “It is a modern-day form of slavery. You lose all your rights. You can’t even vote when you get out because the fees are so high. You are essentially property of the state,” he said. “It is great to see what LeBron (James) and (Michael) Jordan did paying off so many fees so that formerly incarcerated people could be contributing members of society. There is no place for a human being to be someone else’s property. Everyone should be treated and respected as a human being. It is pivotal to attack the legal and justice system to make society better.”

Williams relates the philosophy of his future vision to his faith. “My major emphasis is that everybody deserves a second chance. God gives us chances all the time. I want to be that outlet, that person who is forgiving and willing to give others a second chance to have the opportunity to become a role model for how someone can bounce back from hardship,” he described. “That is what life is all about. There will be obstacles and things that will knock you down. It is wrong for someone not to be given the chance to bounce back. That needs to stop. I want to give people that opportunity.”