Today, the Black profes- sional athlete presents an image of power. Millions of Black youth see professional sports, particularly basketball, and football, as a way to navigate from the ghetto and live out the so- called “American Dream.”
Our young brothers don’t realize that there are only 550 players in the NBA (National Basketball Association) and only 1,696 players in the NFL (National Football Association). Over 80% of NBA players are Black, which fuels the desire to play in the league. Statistics show that 60% of NFL players are Black, which also influences young African-American males to hit the fields. In 2023, close to 70% of the WNBA Women’s National Basketball Association were Black.
These numbers, accompanied by continuous network television coverage, inspire multitudes of Black and Brown children to dream about joining these elite clubs of superior athletes.
At one point and time in history, the MLB (Major League Baseball) was comprised of over 60% of Black players. Today, MLB still has a large number of what I consider Black players, but unfortunately, the divide and conquer strategy is fully operable, resulting in most of these Dominican players considering themselves as non-Black.
Professional sports are a massive part of American culture. The sports arena is strategically being used to accomplish numerous objectives in white America. When an athlete signs a multi-million-dollar contract, it negates any hint that the transaction and deal is related to modern-day slavery and severe exploitation.
As a consequence of national (24) hour exposure through the internet and major streaming networks, Black children and young Black adults become transfixed with exhilarating images of superior prowess and fan worship.
This social trap guarantees that Black children and teenagers will strive to throw and shoot balls, run, jump, kick, and block–rather than seeking to explore the universe, discover cures for infections and diseases, build educational institutions, establish a chain of supermarkets, build manufacturing companies and discover ways to feed starving people around the globe.
Modern-day plantation owners and their business partners reward these glamorized and celebrated Black ball players with commercials, publicity, major endorsements, guest appearances, and unimaginable salaries. During this same time period, Black scientists, inventors, technological pioneers, engineers, academic scholars, educators, surgeons, pilots, optometrists, architects, and publishers are seldom celebrated, honored, and paid what they were actually worth.
The sad reality is that our beautiful Black youth see a greater possibility on the court and field rather than seeing themselves in a laboratory, computer lab, cock pit, or surgery room.
Diversions
During the beginning of Black History Month, Black men, women, and children were glued to their televisions to watch the highly anticipated Super Bowl game. During this celebrated event, Black families and friends gathered at elaborate and fun-filled Super Bowl parties to witness the Philadelphia Eagles beat the Kansas City Chiefs. Right up until the actual game, the NFL mentally manipulated the minds of millions of Black fans every Sunday, from the first kick-off to the last scheduled game. The fan-based sports ritual consumed over (8) hours of sitting and watching the modern gladiators compete.
I asked myself, during this annual gathering of family and friends, just how many of our people took the time to create an investment club.
During this (4) hour period, how many of our people discussed UJAMAA and targeting potential properties to purchase as a group? How many of us considered organizing a family food co-op to cleverly purchase in bulk? How many adults discussed the racist history of the NFL? During the Super Bowl, how many discussions were based on the fact that prior to 1946, Black men were not allowed to play in the NFL?
While eating Wingstop chicken and pizza from Dominoes, how many of our people discussed the life of Brother Kenny Washington? Mr. Washington was the first Black man to integrate into the NFL after signing with the Los Angeles Rams.
Baba Khabyr Hadas is a Pan-African educator and author of Black Power: Destruction of White Su- premacy, Oneness of the Blacks and Afrikan Struggle Inherited. Hadas is a graduate of Cheyney University and teaches African History and Culture at Harambee Institute of Science and Technology Charter School, founded by Baba John Skief in 1972. Khabyrhadas@gmail.com
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