Cowboys Jerry Jones addresses photo being part of group of white students blocking black students

Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones has addressed a controversial photo of him recently uncovered by the Washington Post.

In the photo Jones can be seen standing in a group of white students attempting to prevent six African-American students entering and integrating the school.

Following the Thanksgiving Day game against the Giants Jones commented on the picture saying:  ‘That was 65 years ago. I had no idea when I walked up what we were doing. It’s just a reminder to me of how to improve and do things the right way.’

Defiant white students at Arkansas’ North Little Rock High School block the doors of the school, denying access to six African-American students enrolled in the school September 9, 1957. Moments later the African American students were shoved down a flight of stairs and onto the sidewalk, where city police broke up the altercation. CIRCLED: 14-year-old Jerry Jones

Jones had previously admitted that it was him in the picture from 1957 and said ‘I don’t know that I or anybody anticipated or had a background of knowing… what was involved,’ he said. ‘It was more a curious thing.’

In the picture Jones is clearly looking on from behind an older group of students and whether or not he played a farther role in the incident is unknown.

What is known however is that not all of the students in the crowd were there for the sole purpose of curiosity.

As one black student, Richard Lindsey, explained, a white student put his hand on the back of his neck while announcing to the crowd: ‘I want to see how a n***** feels.’

The new enrollees decided against attending the school.

This view taken from the doors of North Little Rock High School, shows students rushing to stop six African-American boys from attempting to attend the first day of classes, September 9, 1957. The children had enrolled at the school earlier. At the door, white students blocked the entrance and were successful in turning back the black students.

Jones has not been very vocal about racial issues since buying the Cowboys in 1989, unlike a good amount of his fellow owners over the years. 

He has also had voiced questionable viewpoints on issue around the league involving race in the past. 

Jones voiced objections to the NFL’s Rooney rule, requiring teams to interview at least one outside minority candidate for top jobs, and he has never hired a black head coach or lead executive. 

Jones did object to protests during the 2017 NFL season, when many African-American players took a knee to raise awareness of racist policing practices. He ultimately took a knee with his entire team in September of 2017 (pictured) in a choreographed demonstration that took place while the national anthem wasn’t playing

The Cowboy’s owner also objected to protests during the 2017 NFL season, when many African-American players took a knee to raise awareness of racist policing practices. 

He ultimately took a knee with his entire team in September of 2017 in a choreographed demonstration that took place while the national anthem wasn’t playing.

‘Our players wanted to make a statement about unity and we wanted to make a statement about equality,’ Jones said at a postgame press conference. 

‘They were very much aware that statement, when made or when attempted to be made in and a part of the recognition of our flag, can not only lead to criticism but also controversy.

‘It was real easy for everybody in our organization to see that the message of unity, the message of equality was getting, if you will, pushed aside or diminished by the controversy.’