Basketball Courts: The great problem solver!

This topic is nothing new, the conversation around why it is that whenever a city or town perceives there is a major problem with the youths in their locations (code words for too many black youths are hanging out), the most often mentioned and accomplished solution is to build a basketball court? In fact the town that I reside in has just built a number of outdoor basketball courts, albeit with no programming, it's a simple case of "If you build it they will come" The intentions are noble, but the risk of failure is also high. Because all it will take is for one terrible incident to happen and the courts will be closed down. Yet with no programming in place we leave it up to the young people to police themselves and keep everything in check (risky) The proponents of this strategy for building basketball courts to address youth problems will argue that its a healthy way for these young people to channel their excessive energy in a positive manner, and law enforcement officials although many won't say publicly like the idea , because they can keep an eye on a large number of potential suspects especially if they are at one central location. On the flip side the opponents of such strategy will argue that not everyone wants to play basketball as a way to keep busy, and in some cases these courts can become trouble spots for all type of illegal transactions, and violence. Whose right whose wrong? As a basketball coach I know all of the benefits that are associated with playing the game, however as I wrote in a previous story (Sports Addiction) I also am very aware of the negative impacts of sports, particularly in the black community. I hear this statement all the time "The kids love basketball" no kidding, if you were bombarded with thousands of images and constantly brow beat with one option for success, would it be any surprise that you would have a passion for that field.

In my honest opinion I never saw building more basketball courts as a long term viable solution to address the issues and challenges our young people face today. In fact I think it furthers perpetuates the carefully crafted myth of blacks getting out of the ghetto by one of 2 means entertainment or sports. Yes I know its a popular game, amongst our youths, because its inexpensive to play, and kids really gravitate to it, but the focus on basketball is just a temporary fix, it does nothing in the long run to help them solve their problems of completing their education, obtaining marketable skills for employment, parenting, or learning to be wiser consumers.

Side Note:(Free of Charge)

I think its no coincidence that the leading recreational activity in the prison system is basketball, a system that's over populated by young Blacks and Hispanics; why because these individuals come from the same communities where they've been inundated with the idea of basketball being their only way to stay busy or handle their business. Its a viscous cycle!

When affluent communities feel the need to address a youth problem, they seek to build community centers, a place that offers a variety of options that will help their kids prepare for the future, there are job training courses, computer workshops, mentoring , college prep, financial education, etc. Yes they too offer sports and recreational activities, but they don't limit it to basketball, you'll find swimming, rock climbing, tennis, game rooms (for board games like chess) etc. You see they understand that what they are providing is what Dr. Jawanza Kunjufu calls a "Safety net" I know you're saying but they have the money to accomplish this task, and you are correct ,but I would argue that often times when a city or town builds a basketball court its usually more than one and they pay contractors from outside of the community a hefty price tag, I think if you must build multiple courts(maybe fear of gangs crossing other territories) why not build a simple enclosed structure or at least a structure with a roof and a few sections that can be drywalled or set up like cubicles. Areas that can be designated for classroom sessions around the basketball courts, it doesn't have to be elaborate, just something with a roof over top, rest room facilities , and the likes. You could include a clause in the contractors agreement to donate building supplies and or labor to set up the classroom sections . This would attract a larger population that has no interest in sports to the building seeking activities that will benefit them. If money is an issue then have the facility open for limited hours, I find it hard to believe that there is no money (grants, donations) available that won't support this type of effort. There are enough qualified and committed individuals in the community that truly care about the next generation who would gladly man the facility or volunteer their time, parents, teachers during the summer vacation, the elderly during the afternoons(we need to do a better job of connecting our youth with the wisdom of previous generations), off duty police, and so forth.

The suggestion I offered won't solve all of the issues, but it would be far reaching and have a longer lasting effect as we attempt to influence the whole person not just enhance their physical skills through sports this way our youths can keep pace with other young people from well off communities as we create our own safety nets to keep them out of the wrong GAME!

The $723 Billion Dollar Question : Poverty in the black community?

Damn, not again I silently thought to myself as I watched this young black boy approach my truck with a can in his hand while stopped at a red light on my way home from work. Now I know what you're thinking times are hard these days and how sad it is for this child to be out begging to help his family make ends meet and I would agree except he wasn't collecting money to help his family, he was "Canning" to raise money for his track team , a common practice amongst many youth programs, one of my problems with this practice beside the safety factor of watching these youths dart in and out of traffic with little to no visible adult presence, and the increase in child abductions; is that I see the same teams on a regular basis. It got me to thinking is the community in which these kids live really that poor? the answer is HELL NO! Not when according to the University of Georgia Selig Center for economic growth blacks in this country had $723 Billion buying power in 2004 (the figure has grown since then) but adding a LARGER number will only illuminate the problem. In fact the numbers(billions) are too much for most of us to comprehend. So why then are our youth programs , educational systems, and other social services struggling for survival?

This is sure to offend a few people ,I think part of the reason is because like the rich history filled legacies, traditions, heirlooms and other recollections of circumstances that help us link to the past and appreciate where we've been and how we've overcome horrific situations , yet still managed to survive and excel, on the flip side we've also pass down a "Poverty Mentality". Hear me out , too many of our young people grow up in homes hearing these words "we can't afford it" or see if they have a sliding scale or a scholarship ; get it free or at a reduce cost (hook up & bootleg) Our young people are like sponges and they absorb whatever is around them and if they keep taking in the verbal assault of how poor the black community is, they grow up confused and with a distorted view of the resources we possess within the community, particularly when they see evidence to the contrary(play station, X-box, Benz) The sad fact is the adoption of this train of thought and how its continually passed on generation after generation. This mentality is detrimental and as a former Director of Youth and Recreation I was guilty of promoting it, when I ran programs I would never charge the parents enough to cover the true expenses of conducting a quality program, because I fell into the assumption of thinking their families couldn't afford it (I witness many programs today operating with this philosophy) ,so I would come out of my own pocket often time to make sure the youths didn't miss out on an opportunity. One day I came to the realization that I was doing these kids a disservice, I set up an imaginary world where they thought things were either free or everyone loves and is concerned about their welfare so they gave unconditionally(funders) or money just appeared magically , so they had no worry or real appreciation for that matter, often times when you offer something or a service for free the recipient doesn't take vested interest; nothing will make a person value something more than when their money is on the line. Don't get me wrong we must help those who truly need the assistance, and I have no problem with that, but often time we paint the entire community with the same brush stroke, and each case is different. These youths that I served came from some of the toughest neighborhoods and housing projects imaginable yet many of them had TVs (with cable) in their room, cell phones, computers with Internet, dressed in the latest gear, ate out at the local sub/pizza shop 2x a week, were bussed to suburban schools or attended private schools(where they paid full tuition or their parents had to volunteer to receive a reduction in costs) got dropped off and picked up by parents who had top of the line cars, etc.. How did the assumption they can't afford it come to life? it didn't make sense.

There is no way our youth programs should operate on a year to year basis due to lack of funding. Some of its poor management and planning on behalf of the leadership (make sure to charge enough and don't spend every dime you raised) let me park here for a moment; here's a free tip to the local Pop Warner teams in my community(if your team won the state title for their division last year and had to raise money to travel to the nationals,) plan for success(raise money) throughout the year this will cut down or eliminate undue stress in trying to raise the money at the final hour via the local radio stations and newspapers . I don't want to see any more newspaper pictures of our youths in their uniform posing for a picture asking(begging) for help(this is akin to those TV infomercials where they show starving kids from Africa) playing on emotions to make you feel guilty that you have so much and these poor little black kids don't, PLEASE! What a terrible ordeal to put those young people through, they've earned the right to compete for nationals, but may not be able to attend, because the program they play for didn't adequately plan and don't have the resources so they have to be paraded in front of the camera like show ponies. If the same community will come through for you at the midnight hour, why not approach them earlier? (my two cents take it or leave it)

How can a community that obviously has so much material wealth cars, jewelry, clothing , fast food restaurants along with other black community mainstays (liquor stores & taverns, law offices, hair & nail salons) that are profitable and often ran by people outside of the community claim to be poor? Maybe we need to look at our thinking and where we place our priorities after all its on the backs (finances of hard-working black folks)that have produced some of the largest churches(Mega church) in the world. I discovered long ago that people will find a way to afford things they really DESIRE, and for those who don't they find an excuse. I stopped seeing lack and what I noticed instead was the ignorance of the resources we held in our hands that we weren't taught how to manage. Remember it hasn't been that long since blacks had real access to wealth(I'd say the 60's) with a few exceptions. I also discovered that people will rise or bend to the level of expectation. When the bar is raised(no discount or scholarships) people will find a way to meet the challenge, especially if it means a better chance for their children, however when the bar is lowered they will stoop low enough to get by. I could go on , but space and time won't permit, besides I have to save energy to respond to the feedback I'll surely receive for this article, but my challenge to everyone who reads this post, find a youth organization in your community and write a check(any amount) YOU CAN AFFORD IT! and work on changing your thinking through the words you speak(sliding scale, hook me up, cost too much, is it FREE ?) We have the resources needed within the community to support all of these youth programs, besides it will go to a worthy cause and it will keep these kids off, oops I mean out of the street , BEEP BEEP!