WEST PALM BEACH – On June 1, Robbie Davis posted a thought on his current situation.
In light of everything that is going on with the recent murders of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, and now Rayshard Brooks, it makes a lot of sense. And for the record, Davis knows his teammates and coaches are fully behind him when it comes to the Black Lives Matter movement.
The image says it all.
With that said, Davis has been inspired by a Twitter post that the Palm Beach Lakes football program released on June 14. Led by head coach Al Shipman and offensive coordinator Obrian Edwards, they along with several players have said the following in a video that lasts for two minutes and twenty seconds.
“I am a Black man,” Palm Beach Lakes personnel said in the video. “I am a king. I am the future. My life matter…”
Davis, a senior-to-be athlete who is poised to be one of the Rams most impactful players this fall, was happy to share his feelings on our current situation.
“It puts out a pretty strong message on how this has impacted all of us,” the 5-foot-7, 156-pound athlete said. “We (people of color) would just like to get rid of the injustices that have been brought about for centuries, and it affects everyone everywhere. As a young African-American growing up in America, it’s difficult to grow up to be what you aspire to be without being portrayed as something we’re not.”
Davis would love nothing more than to feel and be safe anywhere he goes.
“Everyday we leave home, with today’s society you never know if you’re going to make it back home or not,” Davis said. “When those red and blue lights flash behind you, I shouldn’t have to think, ‘Am I going to heaven or home?’ Every day is a new risk and I hate that it has to be that way. It seems to be more of hunt and kill instead of protect and serve.”
What Davis does have going for him is a true brotherhood that exists at Palm Beach Lakes.
“We all support each other whenever anyone needs anything,” Davis said. “It can be a ride, a place to stay, etc. We are always there to help and keep each other out of trouble. Everyone has their different views on how we should do things. And as we express those, then everyone gets a piece of something different. I think that helps.”
Going back to the gridiron, Davis wants to improve on what he was able to do as a junior last year. He missed several games due to injury, but made sure to show his level of versatility in the 5 games he played, as evidenced by his 210 all-purpose yards and 2 touchdowns.
Davis, who hopes to gain interest and offers from a variety of colleges at some point, had his best game in the Class 7A regional semifinals against Venice (62-35 home loss). Down 20-0, he returned an 87-yard kickoff return for a touchdown to give the Rams some momentum in the first quarter of their last game of the season (10-1 final record).
Davis on what to expect this fall:
“Me and my coaches are all looking forward to me having a breakout season this year,” Davis said. “And I’m hoping to have a few offers at the end of the season with my mentality.”
PHOTO CREDIT: Ovation.Production
