On the latest audio edition of “Listen In With KNN” sports talk podcast and radio show with award-winning host Kelsey Nicole Nelson, DEI activist and author Bo-Dean Sanders joined the show to discuss the importance of relationship-building through sports.
Sanders views the world through the lens of diversity, equity and inclusion. He played collegiate football at both a Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) Cheyney University and Predominantly White Institution (PWI) Villanova University, which instilled in him a profound understanding of cultural differences. He is particularly interested in the role of sports in bringing people from diverse backgrounds together.
Since his playing days, Sanders explored other pursuits, like writing his book “Race Against…Against Race” and producing his show, “Blueprints.” His 2020 book is a personal account of playing on two immensely different football teams, strung together by various insights into how to build better relationships to bridge sociocultural divides. “Blueprints” is a talk show in which Sanders highlights guests across various industries who share his perspective on the importance of DEI.
From the outset of the conversation, Sanders’ passion for his work is evident. Nelson pointed out that some DEI efforts have come under attack, recently becoming politically motivated. Nelson asked Sanders how he deals with that type of pushback to a cause he has spent his career championing.
He admitted, “It has been a struggle. But, if you truly believe in something, you don’t quit, and what you do is you pivot…I am in this for the long term because I believe in what I’m saying.”
Despite the voices of the opposition, Sanders is committed to building a society in which cultural differences are celebrated rather than weaponized. Of course, he respects the opinions of those who disagree with him, but he has one stipulation — proof.
“You need to show me when you say DEI doesn’t work. You need to show me that DEI is a negative thing,” Sanders requested. “Because when I say DEI is a positive thing, I’m bringing receipts.”
With Sanders’ lens of DEI now established, Nelson asked him about his experience as a college athlete in two very different settings. Originally from Jacksonville, Fla., he began his collegiate football career at Cheyney University, America’s oldest HBCU. But after his first year, Sanders decided to transfer to Villanova University, a vastly different PWI. Because of the drastically different environments of the two schools, many wondered what prompted Sanders to make that transition. He told Nelson it was purely because of the athletic opportunities that came with moving from a Division II to a Division I school.
“There was no negative reasons,” Sanders assured Nelson. “I loved Cheyney, and every time I talk about DEI and my college experience, I talk about Cheyney. Why? Because there would be no Villanova without Cheyney. Cheyney gave me my start.”
He credits sports and extracurricular activities with easing the process of feeling comfortable in an unfamiliar place. Sanders’ experience transferring from a mostly Black environment to a mostly white environment, and the lessons he learned in the process, are the inspiration for his book “Race Against…Against Race.” Even though he had this adjustment period and culture shock, he knows that many people never venture outside their cultural bubbles, so his book aims to provide some insights into multicultural dynamics.
Sanders said, “I use my experiences and chronicle my experiences so I can share those experiences with folks who have not had an opportunity to build a relationship with someone that doesn’t look like them.”
Nelson brought up the Olympics as an example of this connection and added, “I always say sports is a universal language. You just mentioned the Olympics, and it’s like, no matter what language you speak, you know, no matter what your day-to-day is like, so many people thrive and look forward to the Olympic games…sports really brings you, I think, into a different dimension that other things cannot.”
Despite his positive present-day outlook on that period of his life, Sanders admitted that the stark contrast between Cheyney and Villanova made the transfer difficult. He remembered being one of only five Black members of the Villanova football team and how that disparity shaped the dynamic between players.
He recalled, “I literally could visualize what it was like to walk in a locker room with all Black guys, and then all of a sudden, I’m walking into a locker room where I see nothing but white guys, right? Complete opposite….When I got there, yeah, I was faced with some adjustments. But I made those adjustments eventually and was able to build relationships.”
Relationship-building is the key to diversity, equity and inclusion in the eyes of Sanders. He glowed about the friendships he forged at Cheyney and Villanova, the bonds he cherishes with different family members and the people who have lent him a helping hand throughout his life.
To demonstrate the importance of building relationships, Sanders shared an anecdote from his time at Villanova. One year, after he couldn’t afford room and board, he found himself rotating from couch to couch in his teammates’ dorms, never having a place to call his own. Finally, one pair of teammates offered Sanders a permanent spot in their dorm, putting an end to his constant relocation. He’s quick to point out that countless other stories like his exist, where sports were the common ground that led to kindness.
Sanders reflected, “That’s the kind of story that will tug at your heartstrings…I was able to build a relationship with two guys that I would have never, in a million years, thought would have happened. And we are still buddies to this day.”
Now, Sanders urges others to view the world through the same framework of diversity, equity and inclusion he has upheld throughout his life. Whether in his book, on his show, or in his infectious positive outlook, Sanders prioritizes connection and the celebration of differences and has laid a foundation that anyone can incorporate into their own life.
Listen to the full episode below.
