Rams Special Black History Month Event

The Los Angeles Rams recently began a series of Black History Month events by paying tribute to Kenny Washington.

By Earl Heath | Contributing Sports Writer

The Los Angeles Rams recently began a series of Black History Month events by paying tribute to Kenny Washington.

Washington was an LA-native who attended Lincoln high and UCLA and was a standout athlete for both schools. He was the first Black player to be signed by an NFL team in the modern era ending a 12-year ban on Black players in the league. Washington desegregated the NFL one year before Jackie Robinson broke baseballs color barrier.

The Rams are the first team to not only have the first African American but the first to draft an openly gay player in Michael Sams.

The team kicked off their celebrations of Washington’s jersey number, by hosting a ‘Threaded Through History’ Exhibit Experience in partnership with The Kinsey Collection at SoFi Stadium. The event served as the backdrop to unveil an authentic Kenny Washington 1946-48 jersey, marking the first time the Rams have released a jersey of this era.

The Kinsey African American Art and History collection isthe world’s largest private collection of African American art and primary source historical artifacts, and is a first-of-its-kind exhibit at SoFi Stadium. As an extension of the collection, the Rams displayed an exhibition of historic team memorabilia with the Kenny Washington jersey as its focal point.

“Throughout the past 50 years we’ve been collecting fine art and primary source historical objects that document the African American experience and illuminate the untold stories of Black Excellence throughout U.S. history,” said Bernard Kinsey, President of KBK Enterprises, Inc. and Co-Founder of The Kinsey African American Art & History Collection.

“Threaded Through History’ served not only as an incredible celebration of Kenny Washington, our community and our history, but also as an opportunity to inspire future generations,” said Los Angeles Rams Chief Operating Officer   Kevin Demoff  “As we did earlier, we must continue to recognize those who blazed trails, remember the bravery it takes to break barriers, and take a stand against injustice. We are grateful to the Kinsey family, the Washington family, Steven Jackson, and non-profit leaders and community members from Inglewood and Los Angeles for joining us to showcase Kenny’s legacy and ensure that his story lives on.”

The event also featured a panel discussion with the first Rams pLaymaker, Sherri Francois, Chief Impact Officer of SoLa Impact and Executive Director of SoLa I CAN Foundation, joined by a recipient of the Kenny Washington Memorial Scholarship, Ivan Gallegos, about how the Rams’ Kenny Washington inspired community initiatives have supported them.

“I have to give it to the Rams for the initiatives,” said Francois. “We provide access to people that normally would not have it. I hope we can inspire the next generation to be strong.”

Her program has high tech computers and provides the best instructors for youth as young as ten-years old.

“We want our students to know you can go to college like USC, there are ways you can get there,” said Gallegos who is from Boyle Heights  majors in Business Administration at the PAC-12 school. “To me Kenny Washington is special he overcame a lot to get to the NFL,“ added the Roosevelt high graduate.

The Rams then surprised the Trauma-Informed Youth Development Career Readiness Instructor at Brotherhood Crusade, George Weaver, as their first 2024 pLAymaker for his efforts to fight injustice and pioneer with purpose in the community. Weaver a long time RAM fan received a 5,000-dollar donation for the Brotherhood Crusade.

 Rams Legend Steven Jackson participated in a fireside chat to share how Washington’s legacy inspires him. Early in his career he played behind Hall of Famer Marshall Faulk.

“When I went into the game I didn’t want people to say why isn’t Marshal playing, So I ran hard to show that I belonged. I didn’t want people saying when’s Marshall coming back”

Today Jackson is the Rams all-time leading rusher.