A cheerful attitude and focusing on school have been preached from the rooftops for as long as I can remember, but it has only been taken up by a select few in the trenches.
It’s all about being “hip” or “cool” these days. It’s all about putting on the appropriate face for the females or impressing your classmates. Athletes are competing for spots on their teams based not only on their athletic ability but also on their appearance, whether that means having an impressive hairstyle, an eye-catching tattoo, or the most expensive Nike sneakers in town.
It’s not just men who are tempted by “bribes” of a good time and a baby! It is our boys, the next generation of Black males, who are in actual and even fatal risk. A new sort of mental and physical slavery may be overstated if sports are considered. But is this the case? We can undoubtedly claim that sports has a strong and often pernicious influence on our kids because of the allure of fame and the money that comes with it.
It sounds reasonable to put things in perspective, so I’ll go with that. Isn’t it a waste of time to spread fear? It’s just a game, after all. What about the media, sports magnates, or fashion houses? Is it really possible to delegate this sport to them? We acknowledge their authority and influence, but aren’t we the ones who voluntarily purchase their goods and services and permit ourselves to be exploited as a result of our own actions?
Most parents and children are not swayed by media hoopla or deceived by the lies. However, we are ultimately responsible for the outcome. Furthermore, many of us have taken a stand against the allure of sports, realising that a generation isn’t made up of Michael Jordans, Venus, Serena, and Tiger Woodss.
When it comes to following the latest trends in sports and fashion, most young black males gravitate toward one of two sports: basketball or football. It is almost certain that these are the most fashionable sports, with a strong African American influence. Only a small percentage of the league’s players achieve superstardom, and those that do serve as inspirations to the next generation of young black males who dream of escaping the ghetto, the school, or the mundane existence defined by their parents’ generation are known as “superstars.”
That many young black boys’ educational possibilities appear to be being stolen is what worries me the most. For individuals in the professional ranks, a college education and a scholarship are essential. These stories are too real, however, to reject as a figment of the imagination.
However, the “easy believism” that may paralyse or somehow infect our community through our children is maybe even more critical. The people around you say and believe that you don’t have to work too hard. Basketball is all you need to do. School isn’t a concern. There’s nothing wrong with spending all day at the park honing your jump shot. Homework? Describe the object in question.