Race in America

I read an interesting article yesterday on FoxSports.com by Jason Whitlock, who happens to be African-American. At nearly the same time, Bill Cosby appeared on Oprah, hawking his new book "Come on, people!" Both the article and (purportedly) the book address an issue that is seemingly best tackled by other African-Americans; the seeming lack of civilized behavior by the "hip-hop" generation of black youth and its effect on the upcoming generation of children and future black Americans.

Mr. Whitlock says that the antics of black athletes such as Chad Johnson of the Cincinnati Bengals and Terrell Owens of the Dallas Cowboys, among others, have made football owners less than enthusiastic about signing African-American athletes in general and particularly those with less than stellar reputations coming out of college. He points out that successful organizations in football (he mentions the Indianapolis Colts and the New England Patriots by name) have already significantly "whitened" their rosters and don't seem to be negatively effected at all by the effort. He also points to the chaos that has ensued when clowns such as Johnson and others are allowed to engage in "buffoonery" unchecked and suggests that these athletes owe it to future potential generations of black athletes to toe the mark and stop all of the clowning around before its too late.

Mr. Cosby has engaged in numerous "call-out" meetings over the last several years, addressing what he hopes are predominantly African-American audiences. He points to the collapse of the nuclear family in the African-American community and the rise of an ill-educated black society that has a much greater chance for death by homicide, prison, or both, than their white counterparts. He suggests that civil rights activists of the 60's, such as Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Malcolm X, and others, are rolling in their graves because the very thing they struggled so mightily for in that day, the opportunity for an equal education, has been just as mightily shunned by the current generation. He suggests that contemporary blacks take control of their own destiny and take advantage of the opportunities they've been afforded so that they, as a people, can rise above the horrific consequences of drugs, violence and occupation of society's lower rungs.

My own experience in athletics has been similar. Reverse discrimination against white athletes as they vie for scholarships and professional contracts has become legendary. As my own daughter worked for a scholarship in basketball, she was told, over and over again, that the program, though interested, was only signing "athletes" this year. What that translates to, my friends, is that these programs were only interested in signing black athletes and were not looking for white girls, whether they could play or not. Of course, this stance is not new in basketball. Blacks, as a general rule, are known to be more dynamic athletes than their white counterparts. The old "white men can't jump" rule, if you will. I'm no different. I'm more apt to give a black guy a second or third look when he tries out for my team just because of this notion. However it makes me sound, I can also testify that African-American guys typically come from much different backgrounds than their white counterparts and are more likely to have difficulties accepting disciplinary or academic guidelines that simply don't bother most guys of other races. That's not a stereotype - it's what I've observed from years of coaching both blacks and whites.

So, what's to be done? First off, Mr. and Mrs. African American, stop blaming racism every time something happens that doesn't favor your son or daughter. A lot of folks, myself included, are more than willing to give a fair chance to anyone, regardless of race, on a even playing field. Second, stay involved in your kid's life! Question teachers and coaches. Ask them how junior's doing and what he can do to improve! Know who he's hanging out with and what he's into. Make sure he does his homework, and, if he's not doing well in one area or another, get him to tutoring or after-school "extended day" activities. Stress that education is his ticket out, not some contract playing this sport or that. That's a dream realized by very few regardless of race and it winds up badly when there's no back-up plan! Finally, model the behavior you expect from your child. If you want junior to speak English well, speak it well yourselves. If you want junior to value education, turn off the TV and pick up a book every now and then. For that matter, enroll in a class or two yourselves just to show that education is not something that is inflicted upon us but something to be valued and cherished! African-American athletes; stop acting like clowns! When you score, toss the ball to the official and jog off the field. Everyone else is glad you scored, too. You'll be heartily congratulated when you reach your own sideline, believe me. What good did it do to rub the other team's nose in the fact that you just scored, other than to steel their resolve toward stopping you next time?

I'm not black, but I think I can speak to what the problems are. I'm the proud grandfather of a grandaughter who is half African-American. If I have anything to say about it, she will value her opportunity for education and will better herself, not because it's a "white" thing to do, but the right thing to do. - Dan