Writing Their Chapter: Walker taking advantage of his platform
February 18, 2021 | Men's Soccer
Joel Walker aims to create change person-by-person
This feature is a part of Oregon State's celebration of Black History Month, in which it is elevating the voices of Black student-athletes across all platforms.
There is a memory that sticks out in Joel Walker's mind as the first time he was confronted with direct racial discrimination. He was a senior in high school, standing outside a Waffle House in his home town of Colorado Springs, when two white men in a truck yelled a racial slur at him.
"I remember I just froze – nothing like that had ever happened to me before," Walker said. "I remember my girlfriend and her mother [who were also there] were just so frustrated with the situation. I didn't realize it at the time, but when I reflect back, that was when I really saw the strength in ally-ship. In these times where our brothers and sisters are being discriminated against and facing injustice, where the growth happens is when we partner together."
Three years later, Walker and other Oregon State student-athletes would come together to help fight discrimination and inequality through the Dam Change program, which was founded in the summer of 2020. The initiative aims to work towards an "end to racial injustice through Awareness, Education, Engagement and Action."
"This is about creating change around systemic racism and fighting against racial injustice," Walker said shortly after Dam Change was launched. "It's about continuing to empower the black student-athletes on this campus … My deepest heart desire and hope is that person-by-person and family-by-family there can be a change when it comes to racial discussion and racial tension."
In addition to his work with Dam Change, Walker took part in the 2020 Black Student athlete Forum in Austin, Texas, as well as a number of protests over the summer. At one of the protests, the senior – who believes strongly in the power of personal testimony – was invited to speak before a crowd of thousands who had come to the event.
"At that moment I understood that we were coming together as a community," Walker said, "and there is only room for growth and opportunity here."
The son of a Sierra Leonean father and a Liberian mother, Walker was born in Monrovia, Liberia, where he lived for the first two years of his life. Despite spending most of his childhood in Colorado Springs, the forward has remained connected to his West African heritage through is parents, and has had the opportunity to visit Liberia twice over the last 10 years.
Since joining the Beavers in the fall of 2017, Walker has compiled an impressive resume on the field, in the classroom and in the community. He earned All-Pac-12 First Team honors during his junior season after leading the team with six goals. Walker was also named an Academic All-District selection for the second-straight time in 2019, and was elected as Oregon State's Student Athlete Advisory Committee President for the 2020-21 academic year.
With all that he has accomplished over the course of his time at Oregon State, Walker has remained focused on making the most of his voice.
"During the few years that we have here - the platform we are given and the resources we have are unlike any other," he said. "The professionals, the professors and the people in general – if we can
use that to empower others, that's what we want to do."
As we move through the month of February, Walker believes it is more important now than ever before to celebrate Black History Month.
"If we look at the history of racial discrimination in this country, we understand that day-by-day and year-by-year it is important to become more intentional in recognizing the efforts of Black men and women who have made an impact on a student-athlete like me" Walker said. "It's important for us to recognize the impact they have had on their communities, the nation and the world."
And as Walker continues to move forward with the goal of bringing an end to racial injustice, he also looks back at those Black student-athletes who paved the way.
"Being a Black student-athlete to me is an honor," he said. "Of course racism is still alive today, but thanks to the sacrifice – and the persevering efforts – of Black student-athletes who have come before me, I am able to be here. That is why I am encouraged and empowered to use my voice to continue dialogue around the importance of fighting against racial discrimination and injustice."
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There is a memory that sticks out in Joel Walker's mind as the first time he was confronted with direct racial discrimination. He was a senior in high school, standing outside a Waffle House in his home town of Colorado Springs, when two white men in a truck yelled a racial slur at him.
"I remember I just froze – nothing like that had ever happened to me before," Walker said. "I remember my girlfriend and her mother [who were also there] were just so frustrated with the situation. I didn't realize it at the time, but when I reflect back, that was when I really saw the strength in ally-ship. In these times where our brothers and sisters are being discriminated against and facing injustice, where the growth happens is when we partner together."
Three years later, Walker and other Oregon State student-athletes would come together to help fight discrimination and inequality through the Dam Change program, which was founded in the summer of 2020. The initiative aims to work towards an "end to racial injustice through Awareness, Education, Engagement and Action."
"This is about creating change around systemic racism and fighting against racial injustice," Walker said shortly after Dam Change was launched. "It's about continuing to empower the black student-athletes on this campus … My deepest heart desire and hope is that person-by-person and family-by-family there can be a change when it comes to racial discussion and racial tension."
In addition to his work with Dam Change, Walker took part in the 2020 Black Student athlete Forum in Austin, Texas, as well as a number of protests over the summer. At one of the protests, the senior – who believes strongly in the power of personal testimony – was invited to speak before a crowd of thousands who had come to the event.
"At that moment I understood that we were coming together as a community," Walker said, "and there is only room for growth and opportunity here."
The son of a Sierra Leonean father and a Liberian mother, Walker was born in Monrovia, Liberia, where he lived for the first two years of his life. Despite spending most of his childhood in Colorado Springs, the forward has remained connected to his West African heritage through is parents, and has had the opportunity to visit Liberia twice over the last 10 years.
Since joining the Beavers in the fall of 2017, Walker has compiled an impressive resume on the field, in the classroom and in the community. He earned All-Pac-12 First Team honors during his junior season after leading the team with six goals. Walker was also named an Academic All-District selection for the second-straight time in 2019, and was elected as Oregon State's Student Athlete Advisory Committee President for the 2020-21 academic year.
With all that he has accomplished over the course of his time at Oregon State, Walker has remained focused on making the most of his voice.
"During the few years that we have here - the platform we are given and the resources we have are unlike any other," he said. "The professionals, the professors and the people in general – if we can
use that to empower others, that's what we want to do."
As we move through the month of February, Walker believes it is more important now than ever before to celebrate Black History Month.
"If we look at the history of racial discrimination in this country, we understand that day-by-day and year-by-year it is important to become more intentional in recognizing the efforts of Black men and women who have made an impact on a student-athlete like me" Walker said. "It's important for us to recognize the impact they have had on their communities, the nation and the world."
And as Walker continues to move forward with the goal of bringing an end to racial injustice, he also looks back at those Black student-athletes who paved the way.
"Being a Black student-athlete to me is an honor," he said. "Of course racism is still alive today, but thanks to the sacrifice – and the persevering efforts – of Black student-athletes who have come before me, I am able to be here. That is why I am encouraged and empowered to use my voice to continue dialogue around the importance of fighting against racial discrimination and injustice."
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