I want to comment on the column by Ms. Lois Hatton. I agree that the importance of the Black cowboy has dropped significantly over the years. The term itself, cowboy, is a direct reference to Black African Americans that dealt with cattle. As time has passed the term has been usurped to become heroes of the Old West, Mr. John Wayne being a popular symbol. Mr. Nat Love is not a familiar name to me, nor is Mr. Bill Pickett. Whether that is because I’m from the city and not into rodeos or because of the usurping of the name and image I cannot say.
Given that, I do not believe that Mr. Satchel Paige or Mr. Jackie Robinson will fade from the minds of fans of baseball. Unlike the many memorable athletes and performers that have been Black African American, those of baseball have movies and books and most importantly acknowledgement keeping their memories alive. Black African American athletes of the last century and today enjoy ‘the light of day’ so to speak. In all major American sports we see African Americans players without censure. Unlike the past segregation and ignorance hid their actions or involvement, today there is open support for players and entertainers.
Without regard for the increase of international sports players in American major leagues, African Americans continue to be involved and integral to sports. And their part in the performance of teams, or individual competitions, is actively discussed. History neglected the entertainers of the past and without discussion or acknowledgement the collective memory forgets. I do not see that as possible today, especially not because players from other nations are involved.
More importantly I think the fact that sports are considered so vital to success in young Black African Americans is a problem. Similar to dreams of becoming a mega-star in music, sports is a dream of the inner-city youth. While attainable, for 1 in maybe 50,000 or less, it is unrealistic. Many today consider college as a means to have their athletic prowess recognized. While that is fine, education and academic achievement is secondary at best. I don’t think that fewer professional baseball players are a crisis or the potential first step in losing that past. I feel that fewer Black African American youth graduating college is. Fewer making it to upper management positions and a stalling of those reaching CEO positions are a crisis. And the apparent apathy of the youth about this is disconcerting.
Sports, music, acting and other forms of entertainment are important. It has been said that the loss of growth in the arts is the first step in the decline of empires. Of course the loss of the intelligencia signals the decline of any people. Of the 2 I find the latter most important. New baseball fields are a good idea, as are most activities that keep kids active and away from drugs. A better idea is anything that supports and reinforces the importance of education. I feel that those that understand more value history and achievements of the past more highly. Those individuals more actively strive to keep the memories alive and in the collective mind. And that the proper respect and acknowledgement is provided to those memories.
New fields and other such toys may keep the game current and popular, but it doesn’t necessarily give appreciation of the past. That is learned. That comes from knowledge. Ask most kids today who Buffalo Bill was, and you may get told that he was a character from a movie – The Silence of the Lambs. Ask what was Mr. Muhammad Ali’s birth name and you may get quizzical looks. Ask who was the first Black African American basketball player, or when the NBA got integrated and see if you get an answer. The questions of how many are in Hockey, or have been in its history, may get a laugh and the incorrect comment of 0. If there is no knowledge, does it matter if there are new toys?
This is what I think, what do you think?
Oh, keep an eye out for an interview with RM Johnson, author of Do You Take This Woman?
No comments:
Post a Comment