Episode #30 - Justice Alan Page (Black History Month spotlight)

The Bare's Den w/ Matt Bare

For this episode we wanted to highlight Black History Month and spotlight someone who has been a leader as a person of color and has worked to make the world a more equal and better place to live. Justice Alan Page is someone who both physically and academically has reached the pinnacle of the professions he has pursued in life. The Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee made his mark on the gridiron playing for 15 seasons, reaching 4 Super Bowls and winning the NFL's MVP award in 1971. We hear his thoughts on athletes using their platform to speak out on topics of social injustice and the importance of his hall of fame speech from 1988.
It's what he has done after his career and off the field that has been most impressive. While playing for the Minnesota Vikings, Justice Page attended the University of Minnesota and graduated from the law school there in 1978. After retirement he became a lawyer and then was the first African-American justice elected to the Minnesota Supreme Court and served for 22 years. We discuss the thing that Justice Page believes is most important to aid in equality for people of color and that is education. He and his late wife Diane started the Page Education Foundation in 1988 which helps to financially support students of color and their academic goals while fostering positive mentor relationships and encouraging role models for children. In it's 33 years of existence the foundation has awarded over $16 million in grants to nearly 8,000 students in Minnesota.
Justice Page also highlights the newly proposed "Page Amendment" that he is hoping passes through state legislature that he believes will help close the education gap in MN for students of color and that focuses on a quality education for all children.
Enjoy this conversation in the Bare's Den with NFL Hall of Famer - Justice Alan Page.