A lot’s changed since the 1950s, and hopefully, that includes Jerry Jones.
The famous Dallas Cowboys owner has been at the helm of the heralded squad for more than 30 years, and it appears he’s got some skeletons in his closet. Before running the Cowboys, Jones was just a kid in Arkansas, and that was the hot topic in his press conference after his Thanksgiving Day win over the Giants. Just a day earlier, an 8,000-word Washington Post feature on his life was published, and it included a photo of him attending a desegregation rally in the 1950s.
Wow, so Cowboys owner Jerry Jones was one of the bullies trying to stop his Black classmates from desegregating Central High in Little Rock in 1957. https://t.co/IZm9DuTUhM pic.twitter.com/G4o7H2G9qp
— Joshua Clark Davis (@JoshClarkDavis) November 23, 2022
Clear as day, a young Jones can be seen among a group of white men with two black men in the center getting interviewed by news crews. The Washington Post confirms that the picture is from Sept. 9, 1957, the same day six Black students were reporting to North Little Rock High School, which Jones attended.
It was just five days after the “Little Rock Nine” when President Dwight D. Eisenhower sent federal troops to safely guard nine Black students as they were going to Little Rock Central High School, which was just four miles from Jones school.
Of course, the black and white photo sparked outrage, so while speaking to the media after the Thanksgiving day game at AT&T Stadium, Jones had to address it.
“That was, gosh, 65 years ago and curious kid, I didn’t know at the time the monumental event that was going on. I’m sure glad that we’re a long way from that. I am. That would remind me: Just continue to do everything we can to not have those kind of things happen,” Jones said Thursday night. “Nobody there had any idea, frankly, what was going to take place. I’ve got a habit of sticking this nose in the right place at the wrong time. It is a reminder to me of how to improve and do things the right way. … I’m not cavalier about it. I’m genuine about it.”
See how Twitter reacted to the photo below.
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1.
Before he is allowed to continue owning an NFL team, Jerry Jones should have to:
1) Hire a Black head coach
2) Meet with Dr. Umar on 60 minutes
3) Publish a positive review about his favorite Tyler Perry film
4) Donate $5M to the ACLU
5) Apologize to the Black folks in this pic https://t.co/6KXjVTFcgb— magic (@magic_zip) November 23, 2022
2.
Jerry Jones is 80 years old and from Arkansas. It’s today you found out he was racist?? pic.twitter.com/RgH1CLlYde
— Aokiji クザン (@DukeOfZamunda) November 23, 2022
3.
That Jerry jones picture funny because everyone assumed he was racist already.. but that’s some historical racism he was a part of in that picture. Something you’d see in a 9th grade history textbook lol.
— ……. (@PrinceHAK33M) November 24, 2022
4.
Y’all posting that Jerry Jones pic like y’all exposing him nigga everybody was racist 70 years ago
— lil duval (@lilduval) November 24, 2022
5.
I just HAD to make this meme.
It’s too perfect
Screw Jerry Jones pic.twitter.com/5IGb1gqhFt
— Philly Sports Sufferer (@mccrystal_alex) November 24, 2022
6.
Y’all crying about Jerry Jones but gave this clown a pass… pic.twitter.com/suds1HOmnM
— Black Thoughts (@byanymeans2022) November 25, 2022
7.
Jerry Jones at the assembly when they announced their school would be desegregated pic.twitter.com/KVQwSMqBD4
— Smoking that brit pack (@casteeezy) November 24, 2022
8.
When it’s #ChrisBrown if it’s once an abuser always an abuser, then with #JerryJones why isn’t it once a racist always a racist? #TeamDl
— DL Hughley (@RealDLHughley) November 24, 2022
9.
Guessing Jerry Jones isn’t the only NFL owner who has something like this in his past. The wild part is the expectation that Black people are just supposed to naively trust that white people who were once eager participants in the dark parts of history magically have evolved. https://t.co/e3Gbb3xhTn
— Jemele Hill (@jemelehill) November 23, 2022
10.
Words are very important: these people were not “bullies”. They’re racists, white supremacists. They’re not at this high school to take away Black kids lunches. They’re there to deny and stop Black humanity… Jerry Jones and his fellow racists were instruments of terror. https://t.co/GBuMhrxT8h
— Annie Apple (@SurvivinAmerica) November 24, 2022
11.
Y’all niggas pathetic. Jerry Jones was told niggas they couldn’t take a knee during a national anthem & y’all niggas talking about everybody was racist 70 years agonigga he was racist 3 years ago https://t.co/yRXnVbAFO7
— TEE (@Tq_does_it1) November 24, 2022
12.
The same group who condemned Kyrie for being anti semitic have been awfully quiet about the Jerry Jones situation, Charles Barkley & Shaq won’t dare call him an idiot #FakeOutrage
— AllGasNoBrake83 (@allgasnobrake83) November 24, 2022
13.
How much Jerry Jones has changed since 1957: pic.twitter.com/Yy9OzRtwFU
— Hassan (@TherealHassanO) November 23, 2022
14.
Jerry Jones can be 14 years old & join an anti integration mob & the majority will chalk it up to: he was a kid
A 14 year old Black kid could just exist & the majority will chalk it up to: he is a criminal
— Anthony V. Clark (@anthonyvclark20) November 24, 2022