Every year the Memphis Grizzlies play a nationally televised game on Martin Luther King, Jr., Day to honor the late activist leader.
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The Grizzlies posted photos of its new alternate jerseys Wednesday on Twitter.
As the 50th anniversary of Dr. King’s assassination approaches, reflecting on the past and looking ahead to what is next for our country with regard to civil rights remains a focus in the Memphis community.
Next season, the Grizzlies plan to honor Dr. King with an alternate uniform in partnership with the National Civil Rights Museum. The jerseys feature lettering that mirrors the font on the Lorraine Motel’s sign.
The trim, down the sides of the uniform and along the hem of the shorts, represents the pattern of the railings. The sea foam green on the jerseys is similar to the color of the rooms where King spent his last few days on earth. These “MLK50 Pride” uniforms will honor his legacy as part of a Martin Luther King Jr. celebration game on January 15, the reverend’s birthday, against the Chicago Bulls.
The black background, meanwhile, serves as “a reminder of the dignity of Civil Rights marchers who led us forward wearing dark suits”, NBA.com states.
The jerseys will be available to fans on January 1st, as the Grizzlies and teams around the National Basketball Association tip off their annual MLK celebration. The motel has since been turned into the National Civil Rights museum, but click next to check out the symbolic uniforms.
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National Civil Rights Museum President Terri Lee Freeman explained why the decision was made to include symbols of the place where King was assassinated.
