Rams DT Sebastian Joseph-Day pens open letter on HEROES, education funding

When it comes to the value he brings to the franchise that employs him, Los Angeles Rams defensive tackle Sebastian Joseph-Day has proven to be no less than a present figure within his communities. In April, Joseph-Day donated $10,000 to feed front line workers putting themselves at risk during the pandemic. Last week, Joseph-Day volunteered his time to kids currently in LA correctional facilities as a way to show his support and guidance for their futures.

Then on Friday, Joseph-Day penned an open letter for the Players Coalition, highlighting statistics that show a disparity in how much money is given to schools and education in different communities.

What this country fails to realize is that systemic oppression is so deep that it is running within our school systems. The fact is, low-income communities are not getting the same amount of resources and opportunities that other schools are getting. This leads to a lack of representation in important fields of work in this country such as lawyers, doctors, and members of congress. The National Education Association (NEA) addresses these issues within the black community saying, “The Black community faces educational issues similar to other minority groups, including the need for adequate funding for schools serving minority and disadvantaged students, as well as other issues with a special impact on the community.”

There’s a lot more within the piece itself that you can read by clicking the link provided, but what does Joseph-Day want to accomplish with it?

As a member of the Players Coalition and a nose tackle with the Los Angeles Rams, the importance of teamwork is foundational to who I am. And always pushing — even through bleak prospects — has been a central tenet of how I have succeeded as a team member. So, I urge the Senate and the Administration to team up with the House to pass the HEROES provisions to address education inequities and the digital divide.

Offering an equal opportunity to all of us, particularly families compromised because of economic status and race, is the right thing to do for our children, and for the future of our nation.

Joseph-Day was a sixth round pick in 2018 and made his NFL debut the following year, playing in 44% of the defensive snaps as a defensive line partner to Aaron Donald and Michael Brockers.