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

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.