DeAndre Hopkins’ interest in history comes out as Cardinals visit Carolina

DeAndre Hopkins expects there could be some Clemson orange in the hardly filled stands when the Arizona Cardinals visit the Carolina Panthers this Sunday.

Only about 5,000 fans will be allowed to attend the game at Bank of America Stadium because of coronavirus restrictions. And as much as the Clemson product feels locked into the game, not thinking about a small pro-Tigers crowd, he admitted there will be some significance as he plays about 130-some miles northeast of where he grew up in Clemson, South Carolina.

“It’s cool to go back home,” Hopkins said. “Only thing I hate seeing when I go home is old plantations with like the Hopkins name on it or something, ’cause it’s like your history right in front of you.

“Hopefully one day I can buy all of those plantations.'”

All this talk during his Zoom call with reporters Wednesday revealed a little more about the first-year Arizona receiver’s interest in American history.

Hopkins has used his social platforms to educate followers about the history of Black Americans before. He put the name “Denmark Vesey” on the back of his helmet this season to highlight the freed slave’s history in Charleston, S.C. Vesey was executed after being charged for allegedly planning a revolt of slaves in 1822.

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— Arizona Cardinals (@AZCardinals) September 13, 2020

Before the Cardinals’ Week 3 game against the Detroit Lions, Hopkins wore a shirt bearing a famous quote attributed to civil rights leader Malcolm X.

“We didn’t land on Plymouth Rock. Plymouth rock landed on us,” it read.

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— Arizona Cardinals (@AZCardinals) September 27, 2020

This offseason, Hopkins was among those who successfully pushed Clemson University to strip the name of slave owner John C. Calhoun from its buildings and honors college.

He’s frequent in sharing his knowledge and asking supporters to read up on important historical figures who might not be covered in the education system.

“I think it’s definitely just good to know who you are as a person,” he said. “Especially us African American people, it’s important to be able to teach our kids the history of us, the real history of who we are.”

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