Episode 96: Blake Gillespie on Basketball Hoops in Concentration Camps

Blake Gillespie, H-O-R-S-E nemesis and the thinker/writer behind Spirit of Hoops is on the show to discuss his recent essay Will Basketball In Concentration Camps Wake You To Action? This episode focuses on a call to action to push back against the ongoing incarceration of undocumented people across the country, based on their country of origin, the language they are speaking, and the age-old American tradition of discrimination based on skin color. As basketball courts pop up at the camps, Blake has used his history with and love for the game to consider how these spaces are being weaponized to help execute the current administration's immigration policy. In this essay, Blake weaves history into current events in a beautiful, captivating way that creates dots for the viewers to connect and opens up possibilities for response. Blake is an artist, writer, a dedicated basketball player and most importantly, a human who cares about the world and often understands it through basketball and his experience of the game.You can follow Blake's newsletter ⁠here and follow his instagram Spirit of Hoops here. Works cited:Pacific Rims  by Rafe BartholomewBig Game, Small World: A Basketball Adventure by Alexander Wolf Ways of Seeing by John BergerLarry Nance Jr. anti ICE t-shirtJapanese American Former Basketball Star Inspired On And Off The CourtNSPM 7Trump urges Australia to give Iran's Asian Cup players asylum