The story behind the Sun Devil Black Lives Matter graphic
The idea was crystal clear. No need for a consultation with a pro, no need for 15 different renderings. Caleb Christopher simply needed help to transfer the image in his head to a computer screen.
Christopher, a sophomore guard on the ASU basketball team wanted to create a symbol not only for just the Black Lives Matter movement or the Juneteenth holiday, which marks the last black people freed out of slavery, but rather also a symbol for his fellow African-American Sun Devil student-athletes. One that encompassed everything.
He reached out to Dennis Kennedy -- an avid ASU fan whose self-made graphics had become popular amongst the Sun Devil faction of social media -- via Instagram on the afternoon of June 5. He explained ASU was allowing him to design shirts around the Black Lives Matter movement and needed help bringing his idea to life.
On a Facetime call shortly after, Christopher explained exactly what he constructed in his mind.
“He’s like, ‘I want the iconic Black fist and then it holding a pitchfork,’” Kennedy said Christopher told him. “‘And then I want it to include all of the Black student-athletes who are at ASU.’ I was like, ‘Easy enough. Do you want me to try other concepts or show you a couple of different options? And he’s like, ‘I think this is it.’”
The power of the end result is immense.
“I would like to thank (Sun Devil athletics) for giving me an opportunity to be a part of change headed forward,” Christopher wrote in a tweet. “I’m grateful that my school’s athletic department has been in contact with myself and other athletes on how they can support Black student-athletes.”
Christopher’s thread noted that every Arizona State athletic program will wear shirts with his and Kennedy’s logo during the upcoming season, a sign of both unity and change from a school that could surely use it right now.
On Wednesday night, Sun Devil football players T Lee, Nolan Matthews and Jordan Clark were trying to buy food from a Whataburger just about a mile south of Sun Devil Stadium. With the dining room closed and no car to pull into the drive-thru with, they asked a white woman in a car if they could give her money to buy them food. She declined, filed a complaint with the manager, claiming the trio harassed her, then, after the Whataburger manager comped her meal, rolled down her window as she drove away, and yelled the n-word at the three Black kids.
(Whataburger issued an apology this evening for this incident)
Even before the incident, football coach Herm Edwards gave his approval for his athletes to share their stories of injustice and praised those who spoke out over social media. The posts made by Clark and Matthews detailing the racism they faced while merely trying to grab a late-night bite sent waves through the Arizona State community. It signified both the need for change and the affirmation that racism -- even on a college campus, even when you play football, even when you just want to pay for some food -- can exist anywhere, anytime.
And in a way, Christopher’s design embraces that. It sends the message that ASU is together, that it supports and uplifts its Black athletes.
“It’s just a simple but powerful graphic. It didn’t need any color. I thought about introducing maroon and gold, but that’s really not what it’s about,” Kennedy, a 2010 grad of ASU, said before adding a thought about Christopher’s activism.
“I think it’s pretty straightforward how he feels about it … Reading some of the things he posted today, it’s really a passion of his.”
Kennedy said the graphic took a few hours to construct. And the majority of the time, he mentioned, was spent reformatting, shrinking, and configuring the names inside the template like he was playing a game of Tetris.
Speaking about Christopher and ASU Friday afternoon, Kennedy – a TaylorMade Golf Designer, who used to work for a sports agency, where he'd use his graphic design skills to promote clients -- felt thankful. He held such esteemed gratitude for being able to help with the project and be a small part of creating change at a university he so loves.
It’s not the first time he tried to help the Sun Devils. Earlier this summer, Kennedy posted several graphics during the recruitment of Christopher’s brother, Josh -- the five-star shooting guard who committed to the Sun Devils in April. The Christopher family consistently reposted them and praised Kennedy’s work, which introduced Christopher to Kennedy’s art. Through it all, there was no money involved, no one asking him to do it. It was all for fun, a way to engage fans while combining his passions of both the Sun Devils and creating edits.
Friday’s release, though, will be cherished with higher esteem.
“It was an honor for him (Caleb) to talk to me and ask me if I was willing to do it,” Kennedy said. “It just shows a lot about his character and how he’s going about this. And posting on a day like today (Juneteenth)I think it’s just perfect.”
Added Christopher on Twitter: “The highest human act is to inspire.”
Outside of just being worn by Sun Devil student-athletes, Kennedy said he hoped the shirt would go on sale to the public to benefit a worthy program or charity. And solely based upon the replies to Christopher’s initial picture, there wouldn’t be a shortage of demand.
