Christian Briggs - St. Louis Ambush

What makes you most proud about being a Black man?

I am most proud about my own culture and heritage. Being an immigrant from Trinidad and Tobago, we have such unique language, cultural celebrations and culinary all influenced by the various ethnicities of our country.

What does Black History Month mean to you?

So for me it is an extremely important reminder during Black history month to never forget my own heritage, how it has shaped me into the person I am today and to never take for granted the freedom to express oneself and culture. I hope that we can all continue to use this time to reflect on how we can appreciate and learn from each other’s heritage in our communities.

Who was your greatest influence/role model growing up?

My greatest influence as a player was my high school soccer coach, he taught me how to deal with adversity, managing the highs and lows the game brings, the hunger to never be satisfied and desire to always improve.

What is one thing you wish people knew about being a Black athlete?

The one thing I would want people to know would be that the obstacles we face to success are more than most realize, the reality of being overlooked at times due to the color of our skin, undervalued, or even underestimated are all things that motivate me.

What barriers have you had to overcome to reach this point in your career?

I have had to overcome barriers such as unequal access to resources, limited recognition for individual contributions or accolades and being overlooked for opportunities.